university of Connecticut libraries hbl, stx F 49.T48 History of Vermont, natural, civil 3 T1S3 DDbDTTlS vi. Please note: This voiume is also available at: PLEASE NOTE It has been necessary to replace some of the original pages in this book with photocopy reproductions because of damage or mistreatment by a previous user. Replacement of damaged materials is both expensive and time- consuming. Please handle this volume with care so that information will not be lost to future readers. Thank you for helping to preserve the University's research collections. Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/historyofvermont01thom n 5 { 1 t Si-' / ^„, , »-"'/"•■" 1 ,'-'■' II I ""'i'°A -X- .SVrI. nf.Mil,-,- ~Vv A#\J. \ / y ''i':t/ir„.,lun,?Un .,/,b' \_ \ HISTORY or nn Y E R M ONI / NATURAL, CIVIL AND STATISTICAL, Xn SJjfcc yavts, TTITH A NKW MAP OF THE STATE, AND 200 ENGRAVINGS. BY ZADOCK THOMPSON. ii II r I f n a 1 0 u : PVUiJ.ISIIKl) YOn Tlir ALTHOK, I3Y CMAUXCEV 'GOODRICH 1842. Entc-red according to act of Congress, in the year 1842, by ZADOCK THOMPSON, tu llie Clerk's ofilce of the District Court, fur the District of Vermont. I N J) E X TO PART FIRST, OR NATURAL HISTORY. [O. slaiiJi for Gerun. For an Index to the Genera of I'IudIs see po je 207 ] Acar.UiopJcry^'ii Iv.'!' I3untin;T Savanna. b7 Duimstic Fowls, 1 1 1 Hawk, JJr.winnfpd,^'. ' Cooper's ]4:i Anijiciiser, Cr Alasriiodoiita, G. ILi'i ISiitnl All;Mri;li .S()riiig3 ■•^ IJiUternut, Alc(;do, ix. Alosa, G. jVnimoccctcs, G. Anas, G. Anclior Ice, briow, r Hirtl. Due 21.-. 2 11 I. aroliia, Wood, MallTrd, Duskv. 10!)! no! Ob Huttoiuvood, l-M Caledris, G IV^ J}lue\vi:ig.l |if 1.-jO CapriiiiulL^iis, G '.'k' ll^islvs, .3. ]- lU'.i (Jartilair. F'slies, M^ Kuilliqinkcs, ]0\- ].') Carp Sucker, i;5:j Eel, Jil.ick, M-l- lG4Cirp Faiiiil)', i;^>-^, Conmion, 147'- ITo'Cat, 52; Silver, Ancyius, G. Angle Worm, Anodonta, G. A iinulat.i, Anser, G. Antlins, G Appear, of ]}irds, 1.'. A j)peii'lix('sliells) J().' Ca'a.iiouiit, Araclinidos, G ]7o|0atasloiiius, G Arbor Vitae, 2J.-'Cat Bird, Arctomys, G '14;{"at Fish, Ardea, (r 10:5 Cattle, Area of Vermont, 2 Caves, Arvicola, G. 41 Cedar I'ird, Ash, 21l|Cedar, Red, Ass, o:V White, A.stacus Bartonii,.!?!' Certhia, G Aurora Borealis, 1." Centr.irchns, G JJiiss, J31a Rock, I'asswnod, Pat, Carolina, Hoarv, Say's, 164 Calalorr. Quadru., 24'Fel-pout, Kill "Birds, .",: F.lk, ]U~' lleptiles, li:;;t:in!, ^Vhite, t(i' FLshes, ]2>! Red, I'laats, ITivFniberiza, G :C'l':inys, G i;S:ij(]niysaurus, G 7'^ Frmine, ]3i' l-:sox, G Gl ll'hiicnstomn, SiK.\tent of Vt., 74ir\ice of country, Sr-jFalco, G 21- Finciics, r'.'iFisiier Martin, i;;i I Fishes, 13! CliLiinplain, Lake, 5 Fl3--catcIiors, Fish, GO — Go3, 02 — ]>arge-foot. G2 — iMarsh. (ii — Pigeon, (i'.i — Rj^l-shoul. GJ — Red-taded,G3 — Slate color. Gl ge-honr, 47 rjit of lands, 3 \, G. snails, HS 217 103 14- He.: 147 liei .5ll'ltL-l 2]4!!liMn!ock, 21.-)!Heron, Blue, IF)! Green, A'i.-ht, 104 103 11 4, Herring family, 144 "1 if iickory, 21.5 Fw^lJiodon", G 144 l:.2''lnundo, G 07 2:I!oj, 53 3iHo;rFish, 132 5r'Uornheani, 212 0"i Horned jiout, ];•;.) 32 Horse, l-,'7 llors '-- Lr s in Vt., Leech,. 131 C'herrv, 20i!:Chen-V Bird, 2.', Chestiiut, 2.")' Chickadee, 2."i Chickaree, 0]j; 74 21:. •■)>:, Bneii, Cross, /. ! Simpson, 4G,Fringillii, G Silver-haired, 2(>('Ias5. of Animals, 234'Von;, Bull, '.at.rachia, llO Cliiiiate, ' OJ ^ Black, lays, (J Climateicompar'd 20j ll'iric iear. leelle, Jill-Fish, 5ircn, Virds, 2-'Ciytus pictiu 3'-|C')rer, 1-ocust, los, G 5otany, 1 Criist.ici-a, ] T'J ('uekoos, ;- I Currant, 173 Cyelas, (L luL', Cucumber, 17-,' Cvpselus, G lull), G 123 D.ue, Bull Fro;r, 1(1) I),,k n.v?, lluU Pout, l:'- n. hthick, l>unlinLr,li,iy win^r. Cr7 Uo^, Pr, III. 2G (i^ Crane, W lioopV, 1 iK, (Jool oj-v, 71 Oawfish, 1/0 Golufiurl), !"'■"> i'row, 7l Goosandrr 7li Cross P>ill,Com. 01 Gon-^e, Wi white wing. 02 (ios-iiawk, 53 orse J^eeol!,. K)!) 3'l i luinr.iino- bird, OG 3') i !yd-aroiralV.sca,137 3.->'H3ia, l-2> oG'lJylcdesPickcrin.l2l fi7 Ice, 14 IP' Icterus, G G7 121 Indian summer, IG 121 liisectivor's birds, 71 12'J iiuects, 170 ]2il Iron-wood, 212 120.1. -hinds, G 121 Jay, blue, 72 12-J Canada, 1' •> .fua![)'inir Mouse, 14G King IJird, UiU Kiug Fisiier, M:. Lakes, 222 Lamprey, Blue, ^" .Mud, 1 le Lanius, G li"- i.irrh. 73 41 ot; G-: Lark, Brown, J 70 Granivoi'us Birds,- (i Meadow !»2 ^Irosbeak, Pine, '.'1 Latitude, 22i(;rnuse, IG- (Lus, Ct ;■" C. uli, B'-naiiart. ];>-■. ll.rr.n;;, I.- H.-.h-v :.ns. It 7 Ilaii.r Hird, 02 Hare' 10] Larus, G I":t Lf pisosteus, G Ii'7 Umax, a lO": Lii-.iuiL-a, G :'(i Ling, G- Linnet, Pine, 4b, I'urplc ir.o l.'.o 74 217 Gr 1 107 14.". 1G3 I .".3 1 IG .-'.) INDEX TO NATURAL IITSTORY. I'ercii, Corii:noi>, 12'' iSaimo, G Jj'izarus, 11" JLobi? looted hinlis.llMi Lobstpr, I'', wftter,! 'l Scidojjax, G T(i Soal, 131 Seasons, !•>»'" 1:^1' rpentii, 'J'.l Shad, lO!*: Winter. I'i7^rilieep, 130 Sli.TT.-liead, 13> Sli.-ldrako, yilShiner, l-l()|TalIer Solitnrv, 10f5 l-idl Spotted, 10'. l!iilTe-i!,Blu(>-win:T. |iO M-i;Tebi-n"!.-!:?ru?,G 1'.33 yili'i'iMi.pprp.ture, ') li:.; IVtrao, G lOi OuiTiiiT.'^iipr, l('.j;'l'iirusli, Aquatic. 3.- Rrown, 11. 'j i;.» 1-1} G. fii IKrniit. -New York, 79 Wilson, 7f) piTip-.ip, 105 133 PitmoUii'^jhl'k cap, 73 11 01 Ilud n bay, 73 J-lorgup, G Metals, Meteorology, JNIeteors, Minerals, Mink, 110: Plover, S-mdling If.vJ'Sitta, G 223! Upl.od, 10-4 Situation, 13G.Tcad, Conifiion, 123 ^>!^;Shrd\v, For?tpr*s, 2fr Tree, 122 32j Short tailed, 27|Tortoii<>, painter), 1 13 2l-"> Shre>v-rnole, 154lSihiridtp, 27 ■ pculptur'd 1 14 OiPodiceps, G 16 Poini'>ti'' vT 31;Pop.-.iS, Minnow, Brook, ]3(ijPnrcu])(ne, Moles, 27, 2-,Pout, liuil, Moose, jVIousi', • Alcadow, J-n-ping, jMud Fiih, Mulhcrrv, Mnle, Miirain.i, G ]\I^l^c 'capr., G i^.hisk liat, Nainaycusb, 'i'J; • ilorned, 4!!|Prof!iiclions, 4l|Pupa, G 4-! PyrrhMlr', (f 137|Qiiadrur)fd: 2i2iQur.y Bird, MjQuad, l'17|(iuisraius, 7r>jliaob't, -lllRae^c'jn, 140,' Rail, 13^i pnii;)p!ug, 114 9-liTotanus,.G Hji 1 iTrochiius colubris.'jG 3olTioglodvtcs. G 84 142;Trout. r.r.-.ok, 141 — Sahrion, Mt) flo, 21 i llOiTijidus. G 78 llKlTurkc-y, Wild lOl 1 1'lr nio, G KJh 1J>; Valval;-, G 152 I J.j' V'crd-iiiont, 4 K^n-ed. 317|V.r.>os, 77 Spo'.t. neck, lir.iVitrin;;, G ^iVi Striped, ] i')l\Vadinir Birds, 102 ]0.'.|W,ilni!t, 22ri 12; Warbler?, b. tV w. t!^ '^! I'lackburn's, -2 (), bLck-throut. S3 Js'ame of Vermont, 4:RaTii in Vt., iSiglit Hawk, 0: jRalUis, G i^'oruay P.rU, 42JPana, G Niithat<-hes, it/ Hat, Blank, Oak, Red, White.SKi! Brov.n, Oil-nut, 2ir>,HHven, Omnivorous? Birds, (>7i Iled-poll, Ophidia, J!'>|K;-r„;us, G Oriole, BaUlmore, (>*■ ileptdcs, 107|Skunk, 130|S;:ie]t, ojSiiioky atmotiph'e. I"; 174lSnake, Black, 117iTu 47| Brou-n, 13-1 Chicken, 130! Gre-^n, Oj Rattle, IT)/ 1 Ribband, !!i i _. _- V ;;i~ed n Vt.2.0_ lo;(i- ini Snipe, 7('::Snn\v, 4c-iSnow Bird, 2;.'jSi;o'.v Buntia^, lC(>|Soil, i -i.Sparrow, Blue, lOGj Chip'iMig, llOj Field', 4;!i _ Suntr, i-f^ S'.vainp, irO Tree. t- Osni. Oiler, Owl, Barn. Barred, Cinereous, 142 llivrrs, oil, Rubin, cvi- C_ 00_ lie (Us, CVReiuin Grcat-liorn., {)-.!Ri!.-t.icola; G. 8!''Spn;ces, P3|Sqnirro!. Bla*„k, IK'I Flfiu'T, 4 1 Gray," 70 1 Re-i, Ifn, G-'l ytr;])erl, 2".i2|V'>iarnos-.''d 3Jole, nirrals, 4:;Streari!3, — carvilean, S2 — C'f f-i, SI — .Maryland, S3 — Nashville, bi — pine-creep'g t-2 — r-potlcd, >-'l t~j summer, ^^ 21 o" yellow crou'n.^j '!•'>: yell, red poll, *'0 47( vvorni-e.itin,"', K3 4rAVeasel, " "Jft 4lij Web-footed bird.s,Ui7 4(>: W hii»-P'>or-vvlil, 'J9 F Gv- '.il- Ilav.k, S'-ree Short-cared, G!Suckers. - ?>lanv-?p''t., 12:f,Swn Fislies, - Red backed, 1 2' Sivallow, Bank -SiliiM-iic.-! ,1-JI| i^.trn, - Svri^ir^f-trri, 12:;! CIi»ii!dcj, -Tiirer, 12-!j CbiT, - Tw-vllned, 12'! White bell 7;;| Vii.let c.I'd, 52.MS>lv;a, •' i 3-.' Salain.mdra, G J2'".,Ta'iir:r.i' Ir, l.20S.)lia, G >r:>,r.nLk-r,B;irfaiu'8 iUl,Vokc-lMcd Birds, l" 10! 1(^2 2-, Widt,^ 4 Wind--, 14!' Winter Slnd, (;7|W'.!r, l.'i'i, 'iVirl veririP, J'i:'.i Wooik-hn-k, 33li \\ oodci^ck, l>.^;\Voodi)eckcr.s, '.'7, Wren; Ilou.se, n.ri — Win'er, •C: Woud, Yellow Rird, ^-| Suiniiicr 217 \'ell..w "'itroaf. 143 ]0 144 3» 3i) 11 10!> '•3 M irl b'.'* , rl >;? 1'3 I X I) E X TO FART SECOND, OR CIVIL IIIiTORY. Abcrcromliio dpfcated 12 Chr.rlfstowii defoiidof!, T.Hoiif;!;, Boniaiiiin Tii Acadcniios cliarterod MoiC'liarlor, ibnii otW. JI. 2'.' 1 ii;i .\ ;, Lord". 12 Adams, Dr., [iunlsl)iii't of o'J Ciiitlcnduii, I'liomns oIUunLinrdton Ilattlc 4v! Addison settled b' l.';o.j:r..pliy ol' f-.')f) udfon nvor discovered I? Admission into the Union &3l list ^j.-h 'h of cV liuit'j)endorico'of \"t. deci. "jO Ai^^onts sjcnl to IJnngross u'.'Cliristia'.i clinit-drHi, J:'0 Indians .->f Vcrinnnt lili-'> Airriculiiin! :2i:5,Ciinlan's ((rorianiation o:(|!n(j!ati drr.ri'datiuns C7 Al.'irin in \vj),,lliani co. 7i! C'>in6, \'cruiGi;t ];i.", i;.d!:.nl;y TO Albany setilod ;i|Comh)ercf' 2ir)| hicro'dvi'Iiics 2i;S Allf-n, Ktlian oi'iCon^^rt'^ratlou". rliurr.hes 17()! r(i.;;s '2 w • leply to Komp 21|Con;,,iu-ntaI :;' -wy, 13o liifiurrcction 7;t lakes TicondiTOjja oli.Contiovprsy %> • N Y. ]0! Windsor and llui-l'd -U • talc* n j)iis('iiiT ?>-)\ '^•-.■llii'd b:Vlror,iiois indiiiijs i • proclamation, TTjConstiuiliu.i or'N'cniinnt, in.'j'jHiT.'rsun, Prefcide.it TO Allen, Ira 23, (i;Jj Aiiici.dnjouls of J !•"> judi;r>s, ^^upreiiio Court ]'l'-i America di;:envorrd ]| I'ri'aiiii.'io to luT'Jti . ary J'JJ Amlier^!, Ccncial ]3iC(>iistitntion oi' U. States c2 I..,-itavc't:"c, !*!,' AiUi-.Mn^-onry J l!(i,t-7il.iijiu !i.)i!>c 2i(j Asylum, ixisanc 2l!'jC'ker, R-m»!nb"r Ml '•"■''Uii--'-; ..♦•(;.. ,-3 ]2:) L.,t;-T:r-" 2::2 Bankji, history of L{J^C':i;:u,;ei f< rii jd 2'''jLoui.sLur^rii taken 12 ]Japtist cliurchi s L-. ■('oiirliJ l:i2':Maira-.-;ia's 171 • Free Will J-:-| nttern] '<; to stop Hi'.Mantili-.ctures ;l'13 J]attle, Bfiuiipglcn ^.'^Crown I'oidl G, 17 .Mas..-achi!=;i'U.s iino !7 • Hnb'uardt'jii '^1;— - t:ik"n by .Varncr 3 !M.:->:iere, fort Wm.Ik'iuy II L. Chan;p!a;n 00, IrTlDe'v ;ai;rL' oiA-.-.'mL.ly lll| U'l .TluoiiiLcr " Vj l'lattshur;;ii llfi' DeerHcld (i;^lruyed .".'.Medica! CulieLrt-t! Itin, l.)5 Benevolent Instilulions 2l':.'s, hi.story of 220; MicKIl, bury C(.li< in» J.'v^ lilack Smk'- A;Va:r il.", I Vsti:;l)a:ic , 77 Mllila! v associatl'-'is '.'2 JJlock Jlon-.'s IT, 2.'>, !> l-orniile-; 212 Mditi-.i ■.iWnMunl. ] :.'7 IJookd and .'v'ltiior'i 173|l''!iiiimer I'.-i't, G, 1() .M..nrc, Joiia 21 Jiraddock d.'ieaiid ^iKd^ication vV Literature 111 .Monne, C'dr.nel 11 Breaki'nridre, James 2l|K!''e'M)n Se.-m.'u?, ){i2 i'.esuient T-^-' J!reak\..;ier, 2iu;i:.i>pi..y ments 21 1 .Montcalm. G.-ur.-l i! I'.ndo-onian's Fort, 7, ()*-! K;>iscopr.! Church - 1!M .Monlnal i/iirnt 4 Buryuyne, arrivr.l of •l'i;l"ann tie;.! Ri rts 2li"J surrendered lo cooaeii u illi Inds. 'id Kiatj of \ errihiit, 12- Meitnt I i.il-'iivrder.cr 41 proelr,;nalion -Uiriai; bCiil V< Cin.uia (i;) M;:ii! ij l,,s, eo:i;,.ani*>s 2!:i surr.-nder -l-lFr-iMi - ._ •' f;..v.T;uiient, 1!'.. Mav L;ati.>n lii.j Burr Se.ninary 'l(j-^l>;!i -,1*, y\>]..^ killed -l.' .\;!\.ii h.itt'es ?.:\ '. G Canada ci-d"d *.) C }'!rit. JU|!"r'Mcli War 7 .\'e^',,T;ul.>!i uitli Cr.nada fll Capital piinishi.iciit J 21 d\-.. vi„i C,;]^ iO,; \^^.^, J ...i^is 201 Cartier's discoveries liOeorgv, Luke 2iNew Cr-i-'and jettled I] Calaloj-ue of Vi. I'ulv r 1 I- GiTuiuin, Lord, letier of G"ii.\evv-j>y >ts 171 ,Mhir!lehi;rv< '•■!;/•"• l'>'>'lI!oi;ees!A-i- cmaiy 2(i.\e.v V. . \ sef'ed 3 Ca- t;et<.n Ml (!.( '..' Iwl :< t../;iVey, S iiinu-l'ii. 1)- \,-,r;;va i'..:! lalien In . Woe.t-ik .M. d Col. i' ;,<.; rants' in I7bl L-. Norwich rmv-r-ity l(>" Norvvichrnivcrsily 17w Cm ;r^'. J.dui i'( iNumii'T Four ' 7 Calli.,]ic Church, il'"!i 2:m t iale, C d ■re I 42!nf:',-,-rs -^i I'uvcrnmeijt !1^ '-^'''•'s"- :!n. 2'.">, :.'ii;!!..iri>')uroi.i;on»c.ttiwn, L.'^N- .J T --j.-r " i.'.li Ci-ampl.iin, Samee! '^ilLj.;h-ia-a, J |( ;, an e F'>rt. .'< Character of h.w.k-, J 7;inn.:,sic Fort taken Cj' >ri;-,n.->l liihabltanis 2('5 of the people ."^O, 21JiIioricon Inko S.iWe wiih CictU Britain 07 INDEX TO CIVIL IIT:5T0r'vY. ri'ijiiot. war oliioU-r.; iiu'.M^lcd 0;t Vfriiijiiciils 171.Rol)iii.sf)ii, bamucl 1:1 ril."riiiis 2i):i' Silas 21 r!y:!i..nfli r^rtt i-a )'. U'ytr'Ts' K.\|)i.ilit:on 11 roliiicai ImsIu a I ■•11 3 li'.'i !Unaltr)ii burnt G'.i roiuilntioii c-}, -2 00, 211 St. Francis destroyed ].-. J's): t Oiilcort 2'J:i rit. Frodorick, Fort G' Pr-ai:i'.)ie toCi ;nslitut ion H '/ St,. Lawrence River 1 ' J'ruitinir, Hi-^t iry of 171 Si. l.c'^cr's retreat 47 Triicl iiir.iliuii 2' ', -11 St. SaiTanicnt Lake 2 rrivinciul uiii in H Salaries 140 PunisiiimMily 31, 12ii Siiiaon Fnlls 4 l'iiril;ii'.s :' Schenectady destroyed 4 I'll 1 11 -I 111 10 Scliool.i ,141- Quolu'c likon 2, 1-1 School Fund 142 Rail IloaJ con ])an';03 217|."T]niyIer 4 lt_l)i.liion i:i ( iuiaila J(i:; Si'nalors in Con£r'."PS3 22:; ill V ■vinoiit 7() Slittv's Insuncciion 7i' Rord, CuUr.n-i 21 SMi-t of ^\l^]\ 2i;s lU'^istors, \''": liir-iit J7r%.'S^:.;.JH^, rililip 2i) Ri.'lii;ioi:s lii^t luLions 3 7.'i|S;aii'r;;lin^ n- Rcprirts, Law 121 Snov.- storm in June <)s Rt'jtn^.'i'iil it.1 V. s inCi>no-. '2'^'.'. Societies 2;/, Kttrfat t'ro:ii ( ' : iiad.i :i7;S!,nrk, Gpiier;ii J. 4! Rpvpniio ■.■nd Ixiicm s ]:!!. "State Debt 14U R'.n-'dntion, \^ ar\;f tl ic 'SS: Hoase 1301 ■itate i'rinon •i;itp of Siiciety SleanfR'Jat.-^ Stevens, C';i[.t. I'. Stillwater, liatllo of Tenor, Old Ticniuleri'!.ja Tiipper, Ser^rcant Union with Nerniont dissolved Unitarian Chiirelii'S Univerjjlisl C'hurciies University of \'ennont Norwich Vermont Reixirts Vermont orirmii'/ed Viry;inia settled V'nies for Gover.aor War di-'clarcd 'A'asiiiiiitnn's letter Washinnt'u tX: Cliittcnd'n ^5 Wentworth, l?i'nniiiir 17 \\'estiMiii.ster ina-^sucro 2S) Wiiliar.i Henry, Fort 10 Young, TJioinas ol, luG 13S 205 21G 7 47 13:5 8,12 G5 CI 74 ISO lii2 I U IGS 124 ■ol 2 111) 04 73 ERRATA. Several !yp i^rajilii";!! ana o'lr^r crrnr^ li'\vi:i; 'n^'on oli'cvvorl, in ditTiTOnl p'lrta of our trork, ^o sli.ill !i ro coiriit .siii-li a.i WduM bo iikily ti> iiu-rlc;i(! t!:u rcultr. These error-- li.n a nmstly ornirreJ in the C.i. ilojiiv (if 1*1 ri!s. in c:i:i30iiui'!i';-" of =01110 al lilinni ni'nJo to ilio nriiui etipt aftiT it left llio hj'.ils i.r .ii.; aiillicr, :iu i of our hji.ig oMi;;i'tl t'.'! wi'tc re- tiiini'il «iili till! ai!ilior'< ruricciioi!;. Tlic^a ptools \v.!;e lio.vi'ver receive I in seasoa to correct iiiujl of tlie vrrois in uur Vu', in i!i.> ^ejutcr part of the cili'.ioii. j-r.-c v.\-\r I. I /•'•?'■ r.\nT i. •1' .ViilP. 'i'"^ i-', f.i,- i,ii.: r ,1 I.'iW. (:!!.'>, Tor Onlor rhyti.l.ic.-a.- mm.1 I'liytilart-acrT.- r'-i, t'-'t l.ii-ti-: H'li-iU'i, l;l.i'k li.'ascil Gull, rraili l! ", I,i|' Mi-.--f..r 'id 'i.'iu>;:;-- 'I;.! I'l-y havi- h-TU iiUro.iucc.l atal iiat- riv, ! I.MJ.-'M. I ui.ih/i;!. ^^- ,T!i-ii ln-iVire lh>.iii. 177, t'..r .Mo-,..-..-,l.-lntioin rp.i.l Dlco'vl" lanm,^. I 'T'J, H.^rhiirori vpl;;.iris. ' \-.tr. ! 1;. .'.ini • ),■ ilii-i < I '-J u.'-i' I 11 I'l .!il. I !.-■!, .'.;;. ck: I n\::,-\ (;itha?.> ; Pnr'.ul-ira nleirea. ill y\t l..r..'*' A!- ■•>.'! Mil M.ik lil'i i 'm- n-, : •■?, J^t.-'a All iiiii.s ; N'icia sali\a ; \'iiia Ciuoca. ii.Trsi'u' I" Dr. 'JV r.y':: '\h..m' .N. \. ri.n.i- iii;i;:!, Mi'iil..' 1 -• iMil..i.i:ii>*_. til'" I'i'ii. It (01 l.M'" ii'i !;!;■• iri I. r i.i Um' ' '.n. i l'- -, I'hiI i IK leiiliiiii ; Xai't'iintn flniniriiini. WM iioi ii!i-i.i ■ .'(I u i.ii I :• ill '•; 1 1 1. 1 -. .It-; v " i'"', A^i'I 11 '-i I'll" II la ; (.'hrv^.iiith'M.; 1:111 l.i-m-niOio- V.- .rUr I ,ii". ; Ti'i! !i.ii-H 'w .lu-.i I p. i r-.iilp.lcJ. iii ;.i • Aniiiiiii Lappa ; l.eoiiio(iii;i I" 17:1. r,ir /.>-'i.'u;^t 'i."!-.!-'.! rra I />. /ci-iu'a, ]■>.., I\if r ifi.- .'.'1.1.' iJ r.M.l i-i i'-l, I'm ( •.;•' ::ii (•■('•i-'i/'i .•■■ e-il /' ,''..: ^--v/n. For A' ■■"■•■' •;'.' 1 !• • '' ■ .1 "Uii. a.i't \l---r,,ui!'n il- •■•c'nri. I ]?.1, Tl-' '<■ '■'■-:' ri'.:il li'ilii/iiixd ) fur C.-}niUza lta.l| f:"-.. fr.iN i!, ■■■ tl:r; !imii I-:, I'm.- llri'i. ■:•■ J.V, 1: ■-:^ ;.. 111:.. Ii' ..,■. .1; \.ir. ' cr :i ; >'iMicliU.t i>!er:iceu3 AiiKir.nitiiiis lili- tiim. Siitiif crr-ri have r;!<.a nerurred in (ho iis?> of cnpi" i.-:il v. '"'i;'. i. 'I'h.- . I'l -n i i.l ilii.-» tn'.vtj in l.il A i-i i» ; I'D, ('; 1-10, -U); U'Jt), ■ i'ii>-(/:. ' "^ .'.-i.u-i. v.ir .'.'i-'i- IJ'J ; i>.:i', :!M ; 1. io, U;i. •:':, ■\'-'li \'::i\ from loMcii:, for l'o,;ii:aii rcnl PoK- 1 C. Y.i.:-' : .' ■•■!' <'.'-'i;>. I )', |-,>, ^'...-hi !'.:■ ■:!'.. I -nl y. irp-ri'c. J'.M, <'r..%'i-l.e \i!> ri.T.-i; oiu^j Mi.irpitiu Pyi"t,f --'•, .'It.i.'itf I.i,ii;iH.r.l Wfii ty >'■ o!o.is4 wl.il^y !■> t^uiintoii. PREFACE. Evzn siiicc tl:e publicaliou of liis Gazctleer of Vcnnont in ^t^24, (lie author lias contemplated a larijcr work, v.liich sliould embrace, not only the Gazetteer, but a general History of the state, both Natural and Civil. lie accordingly commenced collecting and Inyinu aside materials for that purpose, and during the four y<^ars last past, he lias devoted the greater part of his time to t!ie preparation and publication of the work. His means and facilities for the researches and investigations in ■which he has been engaged, have not been such as he could have wished ; but he has endeavored to improve these, such as they were, to llie best advantage ; and now, through tlic blessing of a kind Providence, he is enabled to lay before his fellow citizens the result of his labors. That his work, embracing, as it does, sub- jects so multifarious and dissimilar, has many imperfections, he is fully sensible; but he ventures to indulge the hope thai it may be found to answer the reasonable PXjiecfations of all, and esr.ecially of those who can duly appreciate the labor and difficulties of a work of this kind. For convenience in printing, the three ?evera' parts into which the work is divi- ded, have been separately paged, and, to the two first parts, separate indices have been prepared. On account of the alphabetical arrangement of the third part, an index to that was thougiit to be unnecessary. Part First is devoted to tlic Natural Histor}' of the state, and is almost wholly the result of original investigations. The only general account of our Natural Ifis- tory, wiiiih has hitherto been published, is that contained in Dr. Williams' History. Though highly iuicrcstinix and uselal, that account was prepared at a period anrf tuder circu'nstances which necessarily rendered it imperfect, and in many respccta erroneous. Misled by the vilgar names, and depending upon the representations of the hunters, he has in, perhaps, a majority of cases, applied the scientific names of European animals to ours, which, though bearing considerable resemblance to them, arc specifically distinct. The first chapter of tliis part contains the rcsuli oi' several years' meteorological observations made by the author at Burlington, and also of observations made at several other places within the state. The author's views will be found here, respecting the formation of ice, earthquakes, the cause of the coldncEs of our climate compared with that of Europe, tcT reinains to be writl'Mi iiflcr a GcvlogicdL Surrr.j of tiie slato sliill have been tlTjcted. Part Sccnnd codlaitis a connected Civil JJistory of the state from th.o first discov- ery of its territory down to the year Idl'^J. That portion of tiie history, which pre- cedes tlic adtnission of Vermont into the Union, bemir of a very peculiar and inter- esting ch-.racter, has been treated more fully than in any previons history of ttie state. The material:i for tiiis portion have been principally derived from Dr. Wil- liams' History, the Hon. William Shoe's Vermont State Papers, and a vali'.^^ble scries or pa^>(>r;; recently publish-d at Bennington, in tho State B uiiier, under the title of Historical Reidings, and underilood to be from the pen of tlie Hon. Hrr.AND }£Ai.r., one of our Representatives in Congress. Of Ihosc works ho has made free use, v.'iiich he would here publicly acknowledge, as he has often copied their lan- guage as well as their tacts, and lias not been particular to disfigure his patres with quotation inaiks. From the admission of Vermont, into the Union, only a rapid sketch of the politi- cal history of tlie state has been given ; but to compensate for deficiencies here, lie has added, in separate chapters, the history of tlie political, the literary, and the reliijious institutions, with a closing chapter upon the state of society. The assist- ance, which lie has received, in the preparation of these, will be found duly ac- knowledged iu the progress of tlie work. Fait Third is, to a considerable e.xtent, a reprint of llie author's Gr.zelteer, pub- lished in li-il-J. Many additions and corrections have, however, been i-.troduci d, together with the most iniportai't statit^tics collected at the last census, and t'le his- tory of the towns has, in most caaos, been brought dowri to the year 1841. The .Map has been prepared wiui much care, and wiii, it is believed, be tound more correct tlian any map of the state iiitherto published. It is enirraved upon steel, and tliat, and all the oliior engravings have b' en executed e.xpre;ssly for this work, by Mr. J. H. Hii.l?., of IJurhngton, and in a manner, which we think hifThl}' creditable to him as an artibt. From t!ie beginning of his undertiking, tlic author has rnue.ivoret rpi-ciit (i!if.:rv;iIioiis, is ll-' !■ i.? '. It is *ery inucli to [lo Uiiiuiilfil tluit liic loii-iliule of piare^ m Vcrim.iit is so iuuicrffctly known. Wu aro not uwnri- tlmt a sinirlc point witliiii tiio st.ito has bucii (li.-turii'iiiiil « nil niiy pri'trnsioiis to iic- cur.icy. True, a lew solar uclip-ii iia\o broii oli- •(••rveil r-ii'l eonif ralco.latioiis li:,\o iif. n nrulo, for tlio piirjio-'u of ileiliii'in_' troMi tlierii tin' loir^itudo of tlio jilai'iii ; liut lliL- only o!isi'r\ ;itiou.s M.iliin our know I'j,!^.', wliicli liavc'liithLTlo 111 I'n ^^^^lr''.■.■lJ lis cntitli'ii to any ilo:;ri'f> of coiUi.Ii'ni-,', wrri- tlio-;o of tilt' solar i:.;!iiKr of l-II, iii,;.!o at Ciirliiii-toa !iy I'rof. Jamon l)'-in ami Julin JoIukoii, I'.m.].. iiiui at Itiit- laiMJ 1.) Dr. W.llinnis. 'In,; loii-iUu:.; of ll;e Uni- versity of Vi nnoiit, ilciliK-i-il fr. rn tlirso oli-crvii- tioni-by I'l. li .\.,lii,li, WHS ::;= JC .Tl''. .nil.w'Kui. Inn.i court liou-i,' VJ-' TiT' "Ji ' wtst from IJrii'invi.ii cbtn'rvnliiry, ii-i,! in iircur.ianco wiilillii-o lias llni lon:;itu-fo -jf tlo.' ilillVri'iit piir!< oflln' state bfon laid (i.isvn npnn mn in ip-. !■! I.~:tS,;li<' im'lior prc- pnroil, »iiL iiiu'ii caiv, |',.r i.l.x.-rviii:; tir' l.ir:;:' solar «cLpai' of lliui yeur, fui llio purpose uf i!"t',Tiiiini:ii; Tr. I. 1 Venui.nt is in the township of C^.na.'n, and tiie most western in tlie township of Addison. This slate lies nearly in tlio middle of tlie north temperate zone. The lonirest day at, the soutii line of the state, is loh. [hn. Lts.,and at the norlh line, 15h. 2.5m. 5()3. Boundaries. — Vermont is hounded on the norlh by the province of Canada, on the east by New Hani])shire,on tlie south bv iMassa'chnsetts, and on ihe west by New York. The nortii line of the state runs upon the parallel of latitude 4.')» north. This line was first surveyed by commissioners appointed by the jirovinceB of New York and Canada, in the year 1767. It was afterwards run, but very errnneonslv, by 1. Collins nnd I. Garden. in 1772, In IrOli, Dr. Wamuel Williams^ made some observations witli the view of ascert:iinni!r the true north liiiiotlhe state, and still further observations wt-re made in l.-l^i, by Messrs. Hassler and Tiarks, sur- veyors under the treaty of Ghent. Ac till! loii-ituilc of tho TniviTMly. I!nl tb<' opportu- iiitv prov.'il niif.ivorable, tli<^ «un iK-in^- liiil liy doinji ilnriiv.; tin- srraKT pirt of tlie eclipse. Of the bo- ;,'inniM" lie Inul a toleral.l- obs.-rvaii..ii, nml from tbif iilone he rarefullv r..l.-ul.ite,l thy lor-itn.|.i !.y Dr. n.)\v,lilrl.-s pree.-jits. .iM.t the r.-sii!t v.aH 7;t- lO' 36'' f.T till' loii'.Miiul.' oft he l'niwrsily,or alii.iitliii. !e*» than \va« obli.ineU fioni the preeeilim; ol.^er* atii.ns ; am!, a." be is Uiiiiiied, from I'llor en um.lan'-en, to tl'.ink It !!■= near in upproMniitmn to the tmc lon- L-itnile a" any )i;t olitumed, he !ii<.l it in ttii* work. NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. BOU.NDAKir: i;xTi:>r. — akka- Fart 1. divisions. corJiiij!" to tiif latt.r, tiu> 4.')tl! p.irull.-l lii-s a litlle to tlic s,,vit!:\\T.rJ --it' t)).- Hin! jin- viouslyt'-itaWisi'icd, bii» it is not v( I tiiially sotlk'd. 'J'liC i.:isty, to Ponltney river; tlieiice itlonir the middle of the di'i'pi'st eli:ui!-i 1 of said rivi^r, Ivast Imy and l;tke Ch:nni)],iin to the 4.'>ih de- cree of nortli Lititiub', pa.-sinir to tlie rn-;t- wardof ilie i.-;laud.s ca!!<-d t!ie Foe-r Rmth- CTS, nnd to the v.-estward oC Cr:i;;d Isle and Ish-3a.Moitt<. Tlu- poitien of this tiiu- bet-.\-ee!\ th>- s:>uiluvest oonuT of !ii(^ state and Ponltney river, wis so.rveyod in 1>13 and IrU, and llw report and ]d.in of the E'Kvey are iii the citice of tlie Secretniv cf State at .MoiUprlitr. J'lUiit and .//»a. - Tii-> leiiirtli of \'er- nio.tit from no. tii to smith is l.'wA miles, and the averanc vridth from east to w.-.-r. r>7A miles, which gives a:i area of 'J,(!.")(H square miles, or .'),7!l.'),!'(ii) acres. Tli. I''ii2:tii of the north line of th-- st;ilf !> ;H) miles, and of ih-' s.jiith lire- 4! miles, but, on account of the rjreat b.-ud of liii Con- necticut to tlie v.e.slw;.rd,th.- me.m width of the St, lie is eonsiaerable less than th-' mean be!\\;i;i thes.' tv,o lines, as above jialed. 'i'l,,- widMi of tlie state- iVfUi r.,u!ut I . Ch.uiotte tlironr^b. Munf. I'elier, v.liicli is :>'.> miles nenr.-r t,) tiie noit!ie,-.i t.h.iji Ir, the sHUtii-m b'.imd.iry. is only abim; (iii mih-s, < ):i aceeunt '->!' the irrei'-i, !.•,,;;,..,; m tUn riesferii and e;i-^t- tTi: b.niml.iries, botji ili.-.. lin-'s are Ion- gOT than tiie im. an lenaiji of the stale, tlie ' former bfiuix rho;;'. i7."> miles, nnd the 1st- fer, ffdlowiii'4' tiie course of l!,e Counecli- j cut, iil'i nile.-i.' Tiie stale isdividi'd intu j two equal ports iry t!ie .larallei of •J4d. i L'n:. nortii ]al,tude, nnd also by tiie ineri- I dian !!» 4d. J'.'ni. iit"east lou'/itiuie. Tliese 1 two lines i:ilar the I western line of Nortliticid, .md about 1(> I miles south westerly trom .>lontpe!ier, and I the point of Inteisection i.-. i\w gcugmi'lii- ail. centre (:f (lir .■•[n/r. \ Div/floits. — 'I'iie Gieen Mountains ex- I tend quit<> tiiroufrli t!io state from south I to north, and, f dlowin;^ llic western range, I divide it into two vt'ry nearly equal parts. I These torni th.c only natural division, I witii tlio exc'pf.on of t.he vvat..>rs of lake I Chare.plain, whith divide the coi.inty of I Grand Isle from the counties of J'ranklin I and Cluttemic n, and tiie several islands I wliich comp';-;c tiiat county, IVom eacJi i otlicr, and fr.Miii tlie main land. For civil j ])urposes tiiu state is divided into 14 coun- j ties, which are s.i'.i-divided into ^4.^ towa- I siiips, and several small gores of land, which are not vet annexed to, or formed into, townships. Tiie names of tlie coun- j ties, the date of their ineorjjoraliou, th'i i sliire towns, and tlic number of towns in , eacii county it th^' ])ie.-?en'. time (lc-4"i,) are cxliibitcd in the forioviiiir tabic : Addibon, If •b.:.'7, ] 7.-;7 j>Fidd'.rhury,'ti;;{ T> , '!■• I 11 1 ,, iHennui^ion ,^ ^ ' Lilanoi'.ester,! Caledonia, JNov. ?<, 17!!-i ,D;'nville, \]> Chittenden, |<)ct.'2-i, 17--.> IRuriinnii.n, ,]■:> Essex, iNov. r>, i*oo;Guil,ibail. jI7 Franklin, l.N'ov. .',. !7:i-i ;St. Aib.-.us, jl4 Grand i.de, jNov.li, !-'!:,' jNorth i!ero,i ;"> Lamoiiio jOet.iJtj, l>3.')|lJvde.)ark, il-J Oraoire, JFeb. 17;l iCinlsea, il7 Orleans, |.Nov. .", 17'.;;.' 4rasbnr'j:Ii, 'llij Rutland, iFeb. 17-1 iRutlaud, •iiil Vv.ishi'iirton.Nov. I, ]-^li) i.AIonti.. iier, |17! VVindiuim, JFeb.j I, i'/M !i\'..\Kt;'.ne, '-I'M \Vind.-;or, iT'eb. K-r'! i Woodstock, ^"Joj * Dr. WilliniT!'? (vol. f, p. -iU .<;. •■iis to l!;i' •, in- '.ilvrrtt'Uly. Mki'ii ll:i' i:w3ii <.C iIh t«,i i ml- >-.! '.'.ip ■^Klli; l'l>.' its n.i:,,) v,-|iltll ai;l -l.r:- , ,,I,' ,li.t( .1 tin .■\r< -.1 at. 1(),J;*7 ' -I -licLUc !,ii!es, i,i- ! i-'l i. !' o ihiih ', i>iil til!-, is (li.- ..r<>i V liirli leas ii...imI.v !.' m ?ii-.i ill Diir c<'0,'riji!;ic^ ma! !it;'i r v. ork-: ii -!.i^i liiis \ it- ruHit. A" the ar<':< nf i-(j:ii!;r!"< fiTiii- fi: !ijsi> oi' ■«'.ali>ti'-iil I i'.ii,«, it IS a lualtcr n( snii.i ••i.!'.s'-i|i;in'-t, tlia! it sliotilil tin I orrt'tty sial-. i^. .|ii,,' mil <■!' ,■ u !• «!:u..- .'.v it.-; iii-ii .lii.l Itii- illiutn-ll i- :iii dv: r,i:;i' 11 iiii|i iii.l\ .e.c III •/■'ill!! -ii...:i-i' liiil.", '.Df, ii'vo liKi' till' III," .,r> :i, ;'.i)."j(i, ii i« ;;-J ti. tl..- (i(iiMri> iiiil".w liiiii woiilii <;ii It .•.rv iiiiili'tr liy ii« r'li'.tiivi fii ti.r otn.T Ht-i|i ^. .Viwiirilin? t«. I'l rfiwn i>,'I?'}i*, ^'(■iiiuiiit ',^f^^ s- t Iv in as tiit- lOiIi >,t.\\e iii Jj'.im'.j Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. FACE OF THF. COUNTRy. rRI.NClPAI. SOMMITS. 5- DIAGRAM I"! Of the relative altitudes of some of the principal Heights in Vermont above the sea. 4.179 Tlie Chill, or North Peak of Mansfield Mountainsi • . .^ 4]y3'Ca[iiel's Hump, _^_ 408G^lire\vsbury Mountain, ■ rTr^T~~ 39y;3 Till! Nose, or South Peak of Mansfield Mountains, -j-j 3921 ''^illi'igton ^'-■^''! ~~ STOGiEquinox Mouutaftfj Manchesiari 3320 AsfmtQoy Mount&io, 80631 Middlebury turnpike, --• 1942 Peru turnpike, • 1382 Keyes turnpike, — . 951 Summit lerelat Roxhnry, . . . .- OOS'Suminit level at Williamstown,- TOljManchester villiago, . . . . 485 Montnelier villiage, . . . . 43(1 Norwich University, . . . . 370, University of Vermont. . . 90|Surface of Lake Champlain, Section II. Face of the country. Mountains. — The surface of Vermont is generally uneven. A few townships along the margin of lake Champlain may be called level ; but with these exceptions, the whole state consists of hills and val- leys, alluvial flats and gentle acclivities, elevated plains and lofty mountains. The celebrated range of Green Mountains, which give name to the state, extends quite through it from south to north, keep- ing nearly a middle course between Con- necticut river on the east and lake Cham- plain on the west. From the line of Mas- sachusetts to the southern part of Wash- ington county, this range continues lofty, and unbroken through by any considera- ble streams ; dividing the counties of Windham, Windsor and Orange from the counties of Bennington, Rutland and Ad- dison. In this part of the state, the com- munication between the eastern and west- ern sides of the mountain was formerly difBcult, and the phrase, going over the mountain, denoted an arduous business. But on account of the great improvement of population, whereas, if the true area had !)een used in the computation, she would hare rank- ed as the eighth. of tlie roads, more particularly in their more judicious location near the streams, the difficulty of crossing the mountain has nearly vanished. In the southern part of Washington county, theGreen Mountains separate into two ranges. The highest of these ranges, bearing a little east of ilorth, continues along the eastern boundaries of the counties of Chittenden and Franklin, and through the county of Lamoille to Canada line ; while the other range strikes off much more to the east through the southern and eastern parts of Washing- ton county, tlie western part of Caledonia county and the north western part of E9- sex county to Canada. Thiylastis called the height of Imtds, and it divides the waters, which fall into Connecticut river, in the north j)art of the state, from those which fall into lake Champlain and lake Memphremagog. This branch oftheGreen Mountains, though it no where rises so high as many [joints of the western branch, is much more uniformly elevated ; yet the acclivity is so gentle as to admit of easy roads over it in various places. The western range, having been broken through by the rivers Winooski, Lamoille and Missisco, is divided into several sec- tions, these rivers having opened passa- ges for good roads along their banks, while NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Chap. I. MOUNTAINS. RIVERS AND STREAMS. the intervening portions are so high and steep as not to admit of roads being made over them, with the exception of that por- tion lying between the Lamoille and Mis- Bisco. This part of the Green Mountains presents some of the most lofty summits in the state ; particularly the Nose and Chin in Mansfield, and Camel's Hump in Huntington. These, together with other important mountains and summits in the state, are exhibited in the foregoing table and cut, and will also be described in the Gazetteer, under their respective names. The sides, and, in most cases, the sum- mits of the mountains in Vermont, are covered with evergreens, such as spruce, hemlock and fir. On this account the French, being the first civilized people who visited this part of the world, early gave to them the name of Verd Mont, or Green Mountain ; and when the inhabi- tants of the New Hampshire Grants as- sumed the powers of government, in 1777, they adopted this name, contracted by the omission of the letter d, for the name of the new state.* * This name is said to have been adopted upon the recommendation of Dr. Thomas Young — (see part 2d, page lOb.) The following account of ihe christening of the Green Mountains, is given by the Rev. Samuel Peters in his life of the Rev. Hugh Peters, published at New York in 1807. " Verd-Mont was 3 name given to the Green Mouniains in October, 1763, by the Rev. Dr. Peters, the first clergyman who ]iaid a visit to the 80,000 settlers in that country, in the presence of Col. Taplin, Col. Willes, Col. Peters, Judge Pe- ters and many others, who were proprietors of a large number of townships in that colony. The ceremony was performed on the top of a rock standing on a high mountain, then named Mount Pisgab because it provided lo Ihe company a clear sight of lake Champiain at the west, and of Con- necticut river at the east, and overlooked all the trees and hills in the vast wilderness at the north and south. The baptism was performed in the following manner: Priest Peters stood on the pinnacle of the rock, when he received a bottle of spirits from Col. Taplin ; then haranguing the company with a short history of the infant settle- ment, and the prospect of its becoming an impreg- nable barrier between the British colonies on the south and the late colonies of the French on the north, which might be returned to their late own- ers for the sake of governing America by the dif- ferent powers of Europe, he continued, ' We have hero met upon the rock Etain, standing on Mount Pisgah, which makes a pan of the everlasting hill, the spine of Asia. Africa and America, holding together the terrestrial ball, and dividing the Atlantic from the Pacific ocean — to dedicate and cnnsecrale this extensive wilderness to God manifested in the flesh, and to give it a new name worthy of the Athenians and ancient Spartans, — which new name is Vcrd Mont, in token that her mountains and hills shall be ever green and shall never die.' Rivers and Streams. — The rivers and streams lying within the state of Vermont are very numerous, but small. They, in most cases, originate among the Green Mountains, and their courses are short and generally rapid. Connecticut river waslies the whole eastern border of the state, but belongs to New Hampshire, the western margin of that stream forming the boundary line between New Hamp- shire and Vermont. The Connecticut re- ceives the waters from 3,700 square miles of our territory. It receives from Ver- mont, besides numerous smaller streams, the waters of the eleven following rivers, viz : Wantasticook, or West, Saxton's, Williams', Black, Ottaquechy, White, Ompompanoosuc, Wait's, Wells', Pas- surnpsic, and Nulhegan. Clyde, Barton and Black river run northerly into Mem- phremagog lake. Missisco, Lamoille, Winooski and Poultney river and Otter creek flow westerly into lake Champiain, and the Battenkill and Hoosic westerly into Hudson river. Deerfield river runs southerly from Vermont and falls into the Connecticut in Massachusetts ; and the Coatacook and Pike river head in the north part of the state and run northerly into Canada, the former uniting with Massuippi river at Lenoxville and the lat- ter falling into the head of Missisco bay. All these streams and many smaller onea will be described in the Gazetteer under their respective names. No country in the world is better sup- plied with pure and wholesome water than Vermont. There are scarcely any farms in the state which are not well wa- tered by springs, or brooks ; and none, with the exception of those upon the isl- ands in lake Champiain, which are not in tlie vicinity of one, or more, considerable mill stream. But while Vermont is so abundantly supplied with water, there is, probably, no part of our country in which so little stagnant water is found. The waters of the lakes and ponds are usually clear and transparent, and nearly all the springs and streams are brisk and lively. It is a common remark that the streams in this state have diminished very much in size, since tlie country began to be cleared and settled, and it is doubtless true to some extent. Many mills, which He then poured out the spirits and cast the bottle upon the rock Elam." There is no doubt that the name Verd .Mont had been applied to this range of mountains long pra- vious to the above transaction, (if, indeed, it ever took place;) but we do not tind that the name Verd Mvvl, or Vermont, was ever ajjplied to the territory generally known as the New Hampshire Grants, previous to the declaration of the independence of the territory in January, 1777. Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. LAKES AND PONDS. LAKE CHAMPLAIN. formerly had an abundance, have ceased to receive the necessary supply of water during a considerable portion of the year; and many mill sites, which were once thought valuable, have, from the same cause, become entirely useless. One of the principal causes of this diminution of our streams is supposed to be the cutting down of the forests, which formerly threw off immense quantities of vapor into the atmospJiere, which was again precipitated upon the earth in rain and snow. But it is believed that the quantity of water which annually passes off in our streams is not so much less than formerly as is generally imagined. Before the country was cleared, the whole surface of the ground was deeply covered with leaves, limbs, and logs, and the channels of all the smaller streams were much obstruct- ed by the same. The consequence was, that, when the snows dissolved in the spring, or the rains fell in the summer, the waters were retained among the leaves, or retarded by th6 other obstruc- tions, so as to pass off slowly, and the streams were kept up, nearly uniform as to size, during the whole year. But since the country has become settled, and the obstructions, which retarded the water, removed by freshets, when the snows melt or the rains fall, the waters run off from the surface of the ground quickly, the streams are raised suddenly, run rap- idly, and soon subside. In consequence of the water being thus carried off more rapidly, the streams would be smaller than formerly during a considerable part of the year, even though the quantity of water be the same. It is a well known fact that the freshets in Vermont are more sudden and violent than when the country was new. The waters of the lakes, ponds and streams are universally soft, miscible with Boap, and in general free from foreign Bubstances. And the same may be said of most of the springs, particularly on the Green Mountains, and in that portion of the state lying east of these mountains. The waters of most of the springs and wells in the western part of the state are rendered hard and unsuitable for washing by the lime they hold in solu- tion, and there are many springs which are highly impregnated with Epsom salts, and others containing iron, sulphuretted hydrogen, &c. These mineral springs will be described in another place. Lakes and Ponds. Small lakes and ponds are found in all parts of Vermont, but there are no large bodies of water which lie wholly within the state. Lake Champlain lies between this state and the state of New York, and more than half o^ it within the limits of Vermont. It ex- tends in a straight line from south to north, 102 miles along the western boun- dary, from Whitehall to the 4.5th degree of latitude, and thence about 24 miles to St. Johns in Canada, affording an easy communication with that province and with New York. This lake is connected with Hudson river, at Allmny, by a canal 64 miles in length ; so that the towns ly- ing on the shores of Lake Champlain have direct communication by water with the cities of Troy, Albany, Hudson, and New York, and, by means of the great western canal, with the great western lakes. The length of this lake from south to north, measured in a straight line from one extremity to the other, and sup- posing it to terminate northerly at St. Johns, is 126 miles. Its width varies from one fourth of a mile to 13 miles, and the mean width is about4^ miles. This would give an area of 567 square miles, two thirds of which lie within the limits of Vermont. The waters, which this lake receives from Vermont, are drained, by rivers and other streams, from 4088 miles of its territory. Its depth is generally sufficient for the navigation of the largest vessels. It received its present name from Samuel Champlain, a French noble- man, who discovered it in the spring of 1609, and who died at Quebec in 1635, and was not drowned in its waters, as has been often said.* One of the names giv- en to this lake by the aborigines is said to have been Caniaderi-Guarunte^s\gr\\f-y\ng the mouth or door of the country.! If so, it was very appropriate, as it forms the gate-way between the country on the St. Lawrence and that on the Hudson. The name of this lake in the Abenaqui tongue was Petaicd-bovque, signifying alternate land and water, in allusion to the numer- ous islands and projecting points of land along the lake. Previous to the settle- ment of the country by Europeans, this lake had long been the thorough-fare be- tween hostile and powerful Indian tribes, and its shores the scene of many a mortal conflict. And after the settlement, it continued the same in reference to the French and English colonies, and subse- quently in reference to the English in Canada and the United States. In con- sequence of this peculiarity of its loca- tion, the name of Lake Champlain stands connected with some of the most interest- ing events in the annals of our country ; and the transactions associated witli the names of Ticonderoga, and Crown Point, * Se* Part II, p. 2. tSpafford'bGaz.ofN.T., p. NATURAL HISTORY OF VRRMONT. Part I. MEMPHREMAGOG LAKE. BAYS, SWAMPS, ISLANDS, SOIL. and Plattsburgh, and many other places, united with the variety and beauty of the scenery, the neatness and accommodation of the steamboats, and the unrivalled ex- cellency of their commanders, render a tour through this lake one of the most in- teresting and agreeable to the enlightened traveller. A historical account of the most important transactions upon Lake Champlain, together with some account of the navigation of the lake, and partic- ularly of the steamboats which have been built upon it, will be found in part second, and a much more minute description of the lake under its name in part third. Memphremagog lake is situated on the north line of the state, and about midway between lake Champlain and Connecticut river. It extends from south to north, and is nearly parallel with lake Cham- plain. It is 30 miles long, and the aver- aore width about two miles. One third partof this lake lies in Vermont; the oth- er two thirds in Canada. The name of this lake in the Abenaqui tongue was Mcvi-])Iow-houque, signifying a large ex- panse of water. This, together with nu- merous small lakes and ponds, which lie wholly within the state, will be described in part third, either under their names, or in the account of the towns in which they are situated. There is abundant evidence that most of our lakes and ponds were formerly much more extensive than they are at present, and that they have been diminished, both by the deposit of earthy matter brought in by the streams, and by the deepening of the channels at their outlets ; and there is also sufficient proof of the former existence of many ponds in this state, which have long since become dry land by the operation of the same causes. Several of these will be pointed out in the descriptions of the rivers in part third, particularly in the description of Winooski river, Barton river, &c. Bays. — The shores of Lake Cham- plain are indented by numerous bays, most of which are small and of little con- sequence. Missisco boy is the largest of these, and belongs principally to Vermont, lying between the townships of Alburgh and Highgate, and extending some dis- tance into Canada. The other bays of most consequence, lying along the east shore of the lake and belonging to Ver- mont, are M'Quam bay in Swanton, Be- lamaqueen bay Iving between St. Albans and Georgia, Mallets bay in Colchester, Burlington bay between Appletree point and Red Rocks point, Shelburne bay be- tween Red Rocks point and Pottier's point, Button bay in Ferrisburgh, and hall. Besides these there are several smaller bays lying along the east shore of Lake Champlain, and a considerable bay at the south end of Lake Memphremagog, called South bay. Most of these bays will be more particvilarly described under their names in part third, and also some of the most important bays lying along the west shore of Lake Champlain, and belonging to New York. Sjcamps. — These are hardly of suffi- cient importance to deserve a separate no- tice. Though considerably numerous, they are, in general, of small extent, and, in many cases, have been, or may be drained and converted into excellent lands. They are most common in the northern and northeastern parts of the state. In the count}' of Essex are several unsettled townships, which are said to be made up of hills and mountains with swamps lying between them, which ren- der them to a great extent incapable of settlement. There is a considerable tract of swampy land at the south end of Mem- phremagog lake, and another in Highgate about the mouth of Missisco river. When the country was new, there were many stagnant coves along the margin and among the islands of Lake Champlain, which, during the hotter parts of the sum- mer, generated intermittent and bilious fevers. But, since the clearing of the country, these have been, to a considera- ble extent, filled up, and, with the causes which produced them, those disorders have nearly disappeared. Islands. — The principal islands be- longing to Vermont, are South Hero, North Hero, and La Motte. South Hero, called also Grand Island, is 1 3 miles long, and is divided into two townships, by the name of South Hero and Grand Isle. North Hero is about 11 miles long, but very narrow, and constitutes a township bearing the same name as the island. Isle la Motte lies westward of North Hero, and constitutes a township by the same name. A more particular account of these islands, and also a description of Juniper island and several others lying in Lake Champlain, will be found under their names in part third. Soil and Productions. — The soil of Vermont is generally a rich loam, but va- ries considerably according to the nature and compositions of the rocks in the dif- ferent parts of the state. Bordering our lakes, ponds, and rivers, are considerable tracts of rich and beautiful intervale* * Intervale. This word has not yet found a place in our dictionaries, and there has been much carping about it by Dr. Dwigbt, Mr. Kendall, and other East bay between Westliavcn and White- j traveller! and critics. Hut we use it, noiwilhstand- Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. IMEDICINAI. SPR1NG3. lands, which consist of a dark, deep and fertile alluvial deposit. These intervales are level tracts lyingbut little higher than the ordinary height of the water in the streams, and are in most cases subject to being flooded, when the water is very high. They were, while in a state of na- ture, covered with a heavy growth of for- est trees, such as oak, butternut, elm, buttonwood, walnut, ash, and some other kinds. Back of these flats were frequent- ly others, elevated a few feet higher, and covered with white pine. Still further back, the land rises, in most cases very gradually, into hills and upland plains, and the soil becomes harder and more gravelly, but very little diminished in richness and fertility. The timber upon these lands, which constitute the greater ])art of the state, was principally sugar maple, beech and birch, interspersed with bass, ash, elm, butternut, cherry, horn- beam, spruce and hemlock. And still fur- ther back the lands rise into mountains, which are in general timbered with ever- greens, such as spruce, hemlock and fir. The loftiest mountains are generally rocky and the summits of some few of them consist of naked rock, with no other traces of vegetation than a few stinted shrubs and mosses ; but they are, in general, thickly covered with timber to their very tops. Along the western part of the state, and bordering upon Lake Cham- plain, are extensive tracts of light sandy soil, which were originally covered witji white, pitch and Norway pine, and in the northern part of the state, swamps are numerous, which were well stored with tamarack and white cedar. A more full account of the native vegetables found in this state will be given in a subsequent chapter. Since the country has been cleared, the soil has, in general, been found sufHciently free from stone to ad- mit of easy cultivation, and to be very productive in corn, grain and grass. With- out manuring the intervales usually pro- duce large crops, and are easily cultiva- ted, but these crops are liable, occasion- ally, to be destroyed by floods — the same agency which produces the fertilitj^ of the soil on which they grow. All parts are, however, sufliciently fertile amply to re- ward the labors of the husbandman, and ing, be<;ause it will e.xpicss our meaning more briefly and intelligibly lo tbe greater part of our readers, tban any other we could employ. It may be derived from inter — within, and vnllis — a vale, or valley ; and in its specific signification, it denotes those allu- vial flats, lying along the margins of streams, which have been, or occasionally are overflowed in conse- quence of the rising of the water. For the use of the word in this sense, we have the authority of Ur. Belknap and Di. Williams, the historians of New Wampsliire and Veiraout, and other good wiilcis. the farmer who is saving and industrious seldom I'ails of having his barn filled with fodder for his horses, cattle and sheep, his granary with corn, wheat, rye, oats, peas and beans, and his cellar with pota- toes, apples, and other esculent vegeta- bles. A sufficient quantity of grain for the supply of the inhabitants might easily be raised in all parts of the state, yet tjie greater part of the lands are better adapt- ed for grazing than for tillage. The hills and mountains, which are not arable on account of their steepness, or rocks, afford the best of pasturage for cattle and sheep. Of the fruits, nuts, berries, &c., which grow in Vermont, both wild and cultiva- ted, a more particular account will be given in a subsequent chapter on the bota- ny of the state. Medicinal Sprijiffs. — Tiiere are in Ver- mont springs which are more or less im- pregnated with mineral, or gaseous sub- stances, but none which have yet ac- quired a very general or permanent celeb- rity for their curative properties. Alono- the shore of Lake Champlain, in the counties of Addison and Rutland, the wa- ters generally are impregnated witii Ep- som salts, (sulphate of magnesia). Some of the springs are so highly charged with these salts, in the dryer parts of tJie year, that a pail full of the water will produce a pound of the salts. They have been manufactured, for medicinal purposes, in some quantities, and, did the price of the article make it an object, tiiey might be made here to almost any extent. The medicinal properties of most of the waters in this state, which have acquired any notoriety, are derived from gaseous and not from mineral substances. In dif- ferent towns in the northeastern part of the state, are springs of cold, soft and clear water, wliicli are strongly impreo-- nated with sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and said to resemble the Harrow-Gate waters in England, and those of Ballcastle and Castlemain in Ireland. These waters are found to be efficacious in scrofulous and many other cutaneous comi>laints, and the springs at Newbury, Tunbridge, Hard- wick, &c., have been much resorted to by valetudinarians in their vicinity. Of medicinal springs on the west side of the Green Mountains, those of Claren- don and Alburgh have accjuired the great- est notoriety. It is now about 16 years since the springs at Clarendon began to be known beyond their immediate neigh- borhood. Since that time their reputa- tion has been annually extending, and tlie number of visiters increasing, till they have at length become a place of consider- able resort for the afflicted from various NATURAL HISTORS OF VERMONT. Part 1. CLARENDON SPRINGS. CLARENDON AND PLYMOUTH CAVES. parts of the country. They are situated in a picturesque and beautiful region, 7 miles Bouthwest from Rutland, and have, in their immediate vicinity, good accommo- dations for 500 visiters. The waters are found to be highly efficacious in affections of the liver, dispepsia, urinary and all cu- taneous complaints, rheumatism, invete- rate sore eyes, and many others, and they promise fair to go on increasing in noto- riety and usefulness. These waters differ in their composition from any heretofore known, but resemble most nearly the German Spa water. For their curative properties they are believed to be indebted wholly to the gases they contain. They have been analyzed by Mr. Augustus A. Hayes, of Roxbury, Mass., with the fol- lowing results. One gallon, or 23.5 cubic inches of the water contained. Carbonic acid gas 46.16 cubic inch. Nitrogen gas 9.63 " " Carbonate of Lime 3.02 grains. Murate of Lime ^ Sulphate of Soda S 2.74 grs. Sulphate of Magnesia } One hundred c^ic inches of the gas which was evolved from the water, con- sisted of Carbonic acid gas 0.05 cubic inches. Oxygen gas 1.50 " " Nitrogen gas 98.45 " " The Alburgh springs do not differ ma- terially from the springs at Newbury, Tunbridge, and other places in the north- eastern part of the state, owing their med- icinal properties principally to the sul- phuretted hydrogen gas, which they con- tain. Caves. There are no caves in Vermont which will bear comparison with some of the caverns found in other parts of the world, and yet we have several, which tire deserving the attention of the curi- ous. Those at Clarendon, Plymouth and Danby are the most interesting. The Clarendon cave is situated on the south- easterly side of a mountain in the wester- ly part of that town. The descent into it is through a passage 2^ feet in diameter and 31 feet in length, and which makes an an^le of 35 or 40-' witli tiie horizon. It then opens into a room 20 feet long, 12^ wide, and Id or 20 feet high. The floor, sides and roof of this room are all of solid rock, but very rough and uneven. From the north part of this room is a pas- sage about 3 feet in diameter and 24 feet in length, but very rough and irregular, which leads to another room 20 feet wide, 30 feet long and 18 feet high. This room, being situated much lower than the first, is usually filled with water in the spring of the year, and water stands in the low- est parts of it at all seasons.* The Plymouth caves are situated at the base of a considerable mountain, on the southwest side of Black river, and about 50 rods from that stream. They are ex- cavations among the lime rock, which have evidently been made by running water. The principal cave was discov- ered about the first of July, 1818, and on the 10th of that month was thoroughly explored by the Author, who furnished the first description of it, which was published shortly after in the Vermont Journal at Windsor. The passage into this cavern is nearly perpendicular, about the size of a common well, and 10 feet in depth. This leads into the first room which is of an oval form, 30 feet long, 20 wide, and its greatest height about 15 feet. It appears as if partly filled up with loose stones, which had been thrown in at the mouth of the cave. From this to the second room is a broad sloping passage. This room is a little more than half as large as the first. The bottom of it is the lowest part of the cave, being about 25 feet below the surface of the ground, and is composed principally of loose sand, while the bottoms of all the other rooms are chiefly rocks and stones. The passage into the third room is 4 feet wide and 5 high, and the room is 14 feet long, 8 wide, and 7 high. The fourth room is 30 feet long, 12 wide, and 18 high, and the rocks, which form the sides, in- cline towards each other and meet at the top like the ridge of a house. The fifth room, very much resembling an oven in shape, is iO feet long, 7 wide, and 4 high, and the passage into it from the third room is barely sufficient to admit a person to crawl in. At the top of this room is a conical hole, 10 inches across at the base and extending 2 feet into the rock. From the north side of the second room are two openings leading to the sixth and seventh, which are connected together, and each about 15 feet long, 7 wide, and 5 high. From the seventh room is a narrow pas- sage which extends northerly 15 or 16 feet into the rocks, and there appears to terminate. When discovered, the roof and sides of this cavern were beautifully ornamented with stalactites, and the bot- tom with corresponding stalagmites, but most of these have been rudely broken off and carried away by the numerous visit- ers. The temperature, both in winter and summer, varies little from 44i|'=', which is about the mean temperature of the cli- mate of Vermont in that latitude. A few » Williams' History of Vermont, vol. I, p. 29. Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGR.\PHY. 9 CLIMATK AND TEMPKRATURJi;. METEOROLOGICAL JOURNALS. rods to the westward of this cavorn there is said to be another which is about two thirds as larjie. Section III. Climate and Meteorology. Teinpernhirc. — Tliouyli situated in the middle of the north temperate zone, the climate of Vermont is subject to very considerable extremes both of heat and cold, and the changes of temperature are often very sadden. The usual annual rano-e of the thermometer, in the shade, is from about 92"^ above to 22° below zero on Farenheit's scale, though it is some- times known to rise as high as 100°, and at other times to sink as low as 30°, and even to 39° or 40° below zero. But so great a degree of cold as that last men- tioned!, which is the freezing point of mercury, has not, to our knowledge, been e.Yperienced but twice since the means of measuring temperature have been in use in the state, and these were both in the 'year 1835 ; the first on the 4th of January, and the second on the morning of the IHth of December, 'i'he temperature of the 4th of January, as noted at several places in this state, was as follows : Mont- pelier —40°, White River— 40°, Bradford — 38°, Newbury — 36°, Norwich — 36°, Windsor —34°, Hydepark -36°, Pv.utland — 30°, and Burlington — 26° ; and the temperature varied but little from tho above at tliose places on the 18th of De- cember. For some time after the first settlement of Vermont the thermometer was hardly known in this part of the country ; and since that instrument has become common, very few meteorological journals have been kept, and those few have not, in general, been kept with suffi- cient care to render them of much value, nor have many of them been preserved in a condition to be accessible to those who may wish to consult them. And hence we possess few accurate data, either for determining the mean annual tempera- ture of tho different sections of the state, or for settling the mooted question with regard to a change of climate correspond- ing to the clearing and cultivating of the country. The results of the principal ob- servations, to which we have access, and which have been made in this state, to ascertain the tenqjerature of the months and the mean annual temperature, are contained in the following tables : Rutland Burlington Windsor. Burlington. IVllliams Sanders. Folder Tho7iipson. 1789. 1803-8. 1806. 1828. 25lp 1832. 19.7 J 833. "22^ 1838. 26.1 1839. 16.6 1840 12.2 1841 January, 18.0- 144° 22.0° 25.3 February, 18.5 J 8.9 26 5 31.1 19.3 15.3 12.3 24.2 28.4 19.6 March, 32.0 28.5 30.3 32.4 30.8 28.2 32.6 36.6 31.4 25.3 April, 41.0 39.5 381 39.2 39.4 46.J 35.8 46.3 47.0 39.1 May, .50.0 .56.3 57.1 57.6 52.4 57.0 51.7 53.3 .57.2 .52.8 June, 64.0 (i6.6 66.4 69.7 61.3 59.6 68.1 60.7 65.6 67.1 July, 67.5 68.2 68.5 70.1 68.5 66.2 71.8 71.5 71.6 68.0 August, 67.5 67.(; 64.3 70.2 68.3 63.3 67.5 68.3 72 5 70.5 September 57.0 57. 1 62.1 60.8 58.7 .57.2 60.5 60.6 58.3 61.9 October, 41.0 45.2 49.5 46.7 47.7 44.9 46.8 .50.8 4S0 45.0 November, 37.0 33.5 36.2 38.9 35.6 34.5 31.3 34.0 35.6 353 December, 30.0 24.7 ~' 43.4 24.6 45.6 29.3 23.6 43.8 24.7 43.3 19.1 43.6 26.2 21.1 *' 43.6 47.6 45.5 45.7 4|.8 Meteorological ohserrations at WiUiam.stown hij Hon. Elijah Paine. MONTHS. 1829 1830 11.4 1831 10.9 1832 TtTi 1833 19.3 1834 12.5 1835 17.9 1836 17.3 1837 9.7 18384839 23.9 15.3 1840 1841 January, 9.0 21.6 February, 10.9 14.3 14.6 146 13.5 26.5 12.6 10.5 16.7 9.9 i20.8 23.7 15.8 March, 23.5 26.4 26.4 25.4 23.5 27.2 25.1 OO q 23.6 30.9 '25 8 26.0 24.1 April, 36.6 44.6 39.8 41.2 41.7 36.1 34.5 36.5 31.2 41.2 40.7 34 7 May, 54.8 49.6 53.2 54.7 48.9 48.0 51.6 45.9 48.5 i48.7 51.7 47.7 June, .58.7 58.9 64.8 59.3 55.4 57.4 .5! 1.4 58 8 60.6 63.0 ,54.9 58.5 63.1 July, (iO.2 64.1 64.4 63.3 62.3 68.2 64.6 65.4 61.2 66.2 65.2 64.8 1 62.6 August, 60.7 60.7 63.6 63.5 59.5 60.5 60.9 .57.0 59.8 61.6 61.4 64.6 ; 63.9 September, 47.9 51 .4 .53.0 53.9 .52.7 55.4 50.0 53.3 52.0 .54.6 .54.2 .52.5 i 57.9 October, 42.6 44.4 44.6 43.9 41.2 39.7 47.8 34.5 39.0 39.7 45.4 41 .9 1 38.5 November, 29.7 38.2 30.9 31.7 29.5 28.9 29.8 28.7 30.6 25.3 '28.1 30.2 29.4 December, 27.3 24.9 40.7 7 1 39.4 19.7 21.1 39.5 16.0 -,0.2 13.1 3K8 17.8 37.7 14.4 37.0 14.1 39.1 21.4 16.2 121.7 40.2 39.9 140.0 10 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. MEAN TEMPEI14TURE AT BURLINGTON AND WILLIAMSTOWN. With the exception of the first three columns in tliej^?-*^ of the two preceding tables, the particulars of which are not known, all the means for the months have been deduced from three daily obser- vations, taken at sun-rise, 1 o'clock, P. M. and 9 in the evening. Now, as tlie three daily observations at Burlington synchronize for several years with tliose at Wjlliamstown, the two tables enable us to make a very accurate comparison of the mean temperature of the two places ; and the comparison shows that the mean temperature of Burlington, although sit- uated 22' farthest north, is about b'^ warm- er than that of Williamstown, that of the former being 44. 6e and the latter 39.4". But the cause of this difference is obvi- ous in the location of the two places, Bur- lington being situated on the margin of lake Champlain, and the place of obser- vation elevated only 250 feet above it, while Williamstown lies among the Green Mountains near the geographical centre of the state, and, the place of Judge Paine's observation, elevated 1500 feet above the lake.* The mean annual temperature of Bur- lington, deduced from all of the 12 years observations in the preceding table, is 44. 1'', and from the seven years observa- tions by the author 44.9°, but, as the year 1828 was very remarkably warm, that should, perhaps, be set aside, and the mean of the other six, 44. 4^;, taken as prob- ably a fair statement of the mean annual temperature of Burlington. The mean annual temperature of Williamstown, de- duced from the whole of Judge Paine's observations, is 40.3?. Many perennial springs, and deep wells are found to continue nearly of the same temperature, botli in summer and winter, and to be but very little affected by the changes of temperature which are constantly going on at the surface of the earth ; the temperature of these may, therefore, be regarded as a pretty fair in- dication of the mean annual temperature of the climate. The temperature of a well 40 feet deep, belonging to Mr. Sam- uel Reed, in Burlington, has been ob- served and noted during the year 1841 as follows, the first number after the day of the month being the depth in feet to the surface of the water at the time of the observation: Jan. 1, 14 — 46°, Feb. 12, 18— 44A°, April 14, 16—44°, Junel, 10— ' 44°, July 20, 10— 46i°, and Dec. 8, 20— 45.J°, giving a mean of 45.1°, or .3° higher than that deduced from the daily obser- vations. Winds. — For small sections of country the prevailing winds usually take their direction from the position of the moun- tains and valleys. That is veryjmucli the case in Vermont. Through the valley of the Connecticut and of lake Champlain the winds usually blow in a northerly or southerly direction, while easterly and westerly winds are comparatively of rare occurrence. In the valley of lake Cham- plain east winds are exceedingly rare, as will be seen by the following tables.* Along our smaller rivers, particularly the Winooski and the Lamoille, the prevail- ing winds are from the northwest. The following tables contain the result of observations made at Burlington, for eleven years, and at Rutland for one year. In the journal kept by the author at Burlington, and from which the ta- bles on the following page were copied, three observations of wind and weather were entered each day, which synchro- nize with the observations of tempera- ture for the same years in the preceding table, on the ninth page. The following table contains the results of five years observation at Burlington, by Dr. Saunders, and one year at Rutland, by Dr. Williams. Place. Time. IN^o.Obs.l n InbI w j Nw I fair. Iclody Burlingtonh 803 — 8 1 Rutland 11789 I I682I739I11I19I l!826l 251 431 18 10251 676 1095ll53|l3ll6l76|272ll82|l25 2581 4521 643 289 89 127 19 41137 Ihuiilau 4527 1521 * The author has in his possession a meteorologi- cal journal kept at Hydejjark by Dr. Ariel Huntoon, for a period of 9 years, of which he hud intended to insert an abstract ; but, finding the three daily ob- servations to have been made too near the warmest part of the day to furnish the true mean tempera- ture of the 24 hours, and consequently unsuitable for comparison with the other tables, he concluded not, to insert it. In order to render meteorological observations of service in determinina; the relative temperature of places, uniformity in the method of making them seems to be indispensable, and a want of this renders a great part of the journals which have been kept nearly useless. * Although, at Burlington, we seldom have a wind from the east sutTJciently strong to turn the vanes upmi our churclies, it is not uncommon, dur- ing the latter part of the night and early in the morning, when the weather is fair, to have a light breeze from the oast, wliich is doubtless occasioned by the rolling down of the cold air from the moun- tains to supply the rarefaction over the lake. \n other words, it is strictly a land hreeze, similar to what occurs between the tropics. That these breezes are local and limited is evident from the fact, that, at the same time, the general motion of the air is in a different direction, as indicated by tlie motion of cloud.s in higher regions of the atmosphere. Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 11 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE. WINDS AND WEATHER AT BURLINGTON. CDOlOnOOOOO— iCOO otot^oc^(oooor^oo i 'Z 1 '» 1 to -= coocoQocot>.-^uOi>ocico tJ: >. JO O O CO CO T— , rH no o c c; C^ COMC^^rti^rHr-iC^COTfCO 1 l^ 1^ >^ 1 lO oo o c; o 00 c^ o CO G>J m J> 1 nrj 1 o> c o> i^ :^ n !>i ^ o — ~. cTj CO TO LO -V lO to t>. O l^ O lO • CD o ^ c o i.O LO to CO to O !>■ l^ CO -^ CO -^ IS 1 to & I 1— I " ^ i> LO CO lO CO LO -^ O C5 I ^ S5 I fe IC0i-Hl^Orl.cncoinicoi.oicJ>coco l-^ -^ t7! (7? LO t^ CO CO i^ O OJ ^ CI CO (7{ CO lO O LO C3 LO t-lOTfr-lOCOt-lr-<0 JJ ICOOCOO'^i— II— ir-iJ>T3.0'X) IS2 (OT'*OC0<7JCjTti^ fa S < S H-, ►:^ < r/3 O 2-, Q CO C! JJ CO O O O O O O CO -^ to o — 1 tt t^ i> o lO CO i^ CO o LO 00 CJ to QO 1-1 00 CO lO CO TT to r-.. -r CO. 1^ o o -^ JO lO CO rH CO CO0!C0 3>JC^(Mi-(.-l.-iC0COd CO CO CO ~ to CO 00 lO OT O O X) rr in LO LO CO CO £>. t-» £» lO LO CO ■-^Oi-ioioocoojoicoj^J^ ■cj (?j CO rH o -^ CO Cj :7{ ,01 CO cj > l-^ -^ (>! lO CJ Ci 00 O 1-, CO CJ ^ u? > 1 (Mi-l-*C00»l>..-i00r--^'*O 1 10 w -HOCOOOOrHi-lS^OO^ |co ^ 1 OOOO^^r-iCOLOCCOCO 1 CO 1 o» tn .-H Tf OJ -M CO —t CO t^ lO Tf CO LO LO ^ CO CO CO lo -^ CO CO -re Ti< lo IS 1 'tj- M 1 C! i^ o CO i^ — 1 L^. X) -^ m M 00 1 •^io-^coTf-VlOOCOI^^ 1 »^ 1 '^ W >-ioc:!ooi-io— ioooo |L0 M 1 OOOOi-lOLOCOr-lOOli-^ CO 0) T-^COOOO(7{COCO(>}i-iCN-^ 1?; Cj 1 (N(>iCOOCOO'-^COOO}C^O 1^ Xi CO -Jj ~ I — ?iinni!A.tasf|0 ■"M 9[o'(A\ COrtHOOOOOOOt. cooooooo C; 00 O Ci C5 Ci 05 CI C5 (Ti c; 3i LO Ci o o CO'TtCOOOOOCOOOOOOOCO Ci GO C^ C; Ci 'Ci O 0 i^ lOC0t>.^00C0Or}O I— 1 1—1 • 'Cj O) CO O O LO O) c to -^ — 1 1 rH (M O} M OJ O! (TJ (7! e>{ rr CO 2 1 00 00 lO Ci CJ Tt> lO l^ C3 OJ CO lO 1 1^ 2 ^ ?. i>cMcorf»iO-*S^O(M(MOOJ \^ ^ (0}CO-<3'OiOOLOr-(0}^LOiO CO ^ [ i^OJr-lCOOO^i-iOOOlCOCO 1^ g COOi-lOi-iOJO^OOOCO 1 oi^Tf<-T-^-x>l-^-r<>joono'>j 1 rtc;ooooooi-(OtOQO -vcM-^coTjifOLOi.OTr-'S'Tj.T-i CO K Jt-iC*0000 00 to CI 0!0i-i — rti-i-^soocoeo CO § (?JOOOi-lOi-ir-iOOOCO 00 01 S5 to LO i^ C C; CM C ^ -* OJ 0) LO ^coco-^Tr^o?CMi-^ CO CO ^ CO " -1- 0^ "^ i-^ C".' CO lO 1^ 10 r-- CO-^CO-VCOC^C^CO-I-TTCOCO CO UOIJBAJ •OJJ 810 jsqo tIA\ coi^coocoootcoocooco Ci CD cv (C; o cr. cs cr- cr.. o (Cj ci CD CT3 o o OOTfOOOOOOfOCOOCOOCO Cj TO C3 O Ci C5 Ci C: C5 C"J C; C5 lO o o QCi o CO 00 00 '5 12 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. ANNUAL QUAXTITY OF RAIN. ANNUAL FALL OF SNOW. Rain. — The quantity of water, which falls in rain and snow in any one year, does not probably differ very considerably in the different sections of the state, but observations are too few to enable us to speak with much confidence on this point. The quantity of water, however, which falls at the same places in different years, varies very considerably, as will appear from the following table : RUTLAND. WINDSOR. BUKLINtr roN. MONTHS. IVitl.iaiiis. F.nnler Tlioinvson. 1789. 1806. 1828. 1832. 1833. 1838. 1839. 1840. 1841. % Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. Indies. Indies. •"■ January, 3.5U 2.90 1.30 3.56 1.26 2.52 0.85 1.26 3.49 § February, 2.78 2.44 2.10 3.22 2.63 1.32 1.20 2.19 0.80 n March, 3.10 0.48 1.35 2.31 1.48 1.10 1.43 3.05 3.23 ^ April, 3.01 2.78 275 1.96 1.28 1.34 1.60 4.69 3..54 May, 4.72 2.06 2.45 5.71 9.85 4.51 2.43 2.46 2.28 t~ June, 3.91 2.73 3.70 3.41 4.28 5.37 3.70 2.84 5.16 ,2 July, 2.31 4.34 5.95 3.52 7.-54 3.25 6.26 4.18 2.87 n August, 2.11 0.95 430 4.76 7.34 2.41 1.91 3.51 1.40 September, 2.48 4.57 9.85 1.81 4.17 1.33 2.91 4.71 3.62 >» October, 5.66 1.40 1.65 4.05 6.01 2.98 0.45 3.76 0.83 1 November, 4.10 2.17 6.25 3.01 1.91 3.78 2.57 2.22 2.47 December, 3.49 2 36 1.65 2.27 1..59 0.92 2.68 2.41 3.02 32.71 c Total, 41.17 29.18 43.30 39.59 49.24 30.83 27.99 37.28 S The depth of water, which falls during a rain storm or thunder shower, is much less than people generally suppose. A fall of 4 or 5 inches during a severe thun- der shower would not be thought at all extravagant by persons who have paid no attention to the accurate measurement of the quantity which fell. But during the Beven years observations at Burlington contained in the above table, the depth of water which fell in one shower has nev- er exceeded two inches, and the whole amount in 24 hours has, in only one in- stance, exceeded three inches, and that was on the I3th of May, 1833, when the ■fall of water was 3.54 inches. Snoio. — For more than three months of the year the ground is usually covered with snow, but the depth of the snow, a3 well as the time of its lying upon the ground, vary much in the different parta of the state. Upon the mountains and high lands, snows fall earlier and deeper, and lie later in the Spring than upon the low lands and valleys, and it is believed that they fell much deeper in all parts of the state, before the country was much cleared, than they have for many years past. As little snow falls at Burlington, probably, as at any place in the state. The following table exhibits the amount at this place for the last five winters : Fall of Snow at Bur lington in the tointcrs of 1837 -8. Inc. 1838 -'9. Inc . 1839- '40. Inc. 1840-'l. Inc. 1841- -'2. Inc.! Nov. ^1 2 Oct, 29, 1 Nov. 6, 2 Oct. 26, 2A Oct. 8, 2 <( 26, 5 Nov. 7, 3i C( 'J, U Nov. 22, 7 a 26, 3.^ Dec. 10, 3 (( 19, 2 Dec. M, 3 " 26,27, 3A C( 29, 3 11 11, 1 K 28, 2 (1 16, 9 Dec. 7, 6 Dec. 2 1 (( 18, 3 Dec. 7, h (I 17, 1 " 22, 3 (( 14, U (( 28, 1 (( 17, 1 (< 28, 5 » 27, 8 (( 18, 15 Jan. 15, 1 (1 18, 4 (( 29, 4 Jan. 2, 10 Jan. 5, 2 " 19, 2 (( 23, 6 Jan. T), 4 "6, 11, 5 (( 9, 2 (( 28, 12 (1 29, 1 (( 15, U " 22,25, 8h 11 27, 3 Feb. 11, 5 Jan. 4, 1 " 23, 6 " 30, 2 Feb. 17, 15 " 13, 3 (1 5, n Feb. 26, 1 Feb. 2, 2,h (1 22 1 (< 17, 8 (( 28, 1 March 7, 1 " 6, 10, U (( 26, 4 tc 22, 1 Feb. 2, 1 C( 10, 2 " 17,27, 7 March 7, 5 March , 6, 6 " «, 2 (( 24, 7 March 7, 5 " 15, 1 (( 21, 1 (( 27, 4 9, 4 u 26, 5 (( 28, 2 March 3, 1 " 29 7 (( 30, 3 (( 19, 5 Apr. 6,13, 2 April, 5^, 1 60 April 13, 41 48 " 22, 5 92i 64 CltAP. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 13 SLEIGHING. APPEARANCES OF BIRDS AND BLOSSOMS. In 18;58-''J, sleigha run from December 23, to January 8, but there was no good sItMgliing during the winter. In 18'3n-'4U sleigliing was excellent from December 16, to February ?>■, fifty one, days. In 1840- '41, sleiglis run from November 22, to November 20, and from December 7, to December 12, but the sleighing was not good. From December 27, the sleighing was good till the 8th of January, after which there was no good sleighing, al- though sleighs continued to run till the 20th of March. In 1841-'2, sleighing tol- erable from December 18, to January 20, after that no good sleighing though sleighs run at several periods for a few days at a time. The deepest snows, which fall in Ver- mont, are usually accompanied by a north or northeasterly wind, but there is some- times a considerable fall of snow with a northwesterly, or southeasterly wind. A long continuance of south wind usually brings rain, both in winter and summer. Although snows are frequent in winter and rains in summer, storms are not of long continuance, seldom e.xceeding 24 hours. Storms from the east, which are common on the sea board, do not often reach the eastern part of this state, and on the west side of the Green Mountains they are wholly unknown, or rather, they come to that portion of the country from a northeastern, or southeastern direction. Thunder showers are common in tiie months of June, July and August, but seldom at other seasons. They usually come from the west, or southwest, but are not often violent or destructive, and very little damage is ever done by hurricanes or hail. The crops oftener suffer from an excess, than from a deficiency, of moisture, though seldom from eitlier. Seasons. — During the winter the ground is usually covered with snow, seldom ex- ceeding one or two feet deep on the low lands, but often attaining the depth of three or four feet on the high lands and mountains. The weather is cold, and, in general, pretty uniformly so, with occa- sional snows and driving winds, till the beginning of March, when with much boisterous weather there begin to appear some slight indications of spring. About the 20th of that month the snows begin to disappear, and early in April Uie ground is usually bare. But the snows fall some weeks earlier and lie much later upon the mountains than upon the low lands. The weather and state of the ground is usually such as to admit of sowing wheat, rye, oats, barley and peas, the latter part of April. Indian corn is commonly planted about the 20th of May, flowers about tlie 20th of July, and is ripe in October. Po- tatoes are planted any time between the 1st of May and the J 0th of June. Frosts usually cease about the 10th of May and commence again the latter part of Sept., but in some years slight frosts have been observed, at particular places, in all the summer months, while in others, the ten- derest vegetation has continued green and flourishing till November. The observa- tions contained in the following table will afford the means of comparing tiie springs of a few years past. They are gathered from the Meteorological journal kept by the author at Burlington : Robins Song Barn Currants Red Phim Plumsand Crab Common seen. .Sparrows Swallows Blossom. Blossom. Clierries Apple Apple Vear. 1828 seen. Been. Blossom. Blossom. Blossom. April 28 May <) May 12 May 16 18211 " 23 !) May 12 " 16 " 22 1832 Mar. 25 Mar. 28 " 26 12 (C 14 " 20 Mav 24 June 3 1833 " 23 " 28 " 21 4 / " 12 " 15 May 18 1837 » 20 " 23 " 30 16 19 " 28 » 30 June 2 1838 " 23 " 31 May 2 li» 22 " 26 June 1 " 2 1839 " 2.5 " 25 April26 4 12 " 14 May 22 May 26 1840 " 15 " 21 " 21 3 12 " 17 " 20 " 23 1841 » 27 » 27 " 27 23 2.') " 26 " 29 " 31 Vegetation, upon the low lands and along the margin of the lakes and large streams, is, in the spring, usually, a week or ten days in advance of that upon the high lands and mountains ; but frosts usu- ally occur, in the fall, earliest upon the low lands,' allowing to each nearly the same time of active vegetation. The low lands, however, enjoy a higher tempera- ture, and bring fruits and vegetables to maturity which do not succeed well upon the high lands. To the above remark, with regard to early frosts, there are sev- eral exceptions. On the low islands and shores of lake Champlain, vegetation is frequently green and flourishing long after the frosts have seared it in other ])arts of the state, and, along several of the rivers, 14 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. OPENING AND CLOSING OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ICE. vegetation is protected by the morning fogs for some time after its growth has be^n stopped upon the uplands. The early part of the autumn is usually pleas- ant and agreeable and the cold advances gradually, but as it proceeds the changes become nwre considerable and frequent, and the great contrast between the tem- perature of the day and night at this sea- son render much precaution necessary in order to guard against its injurious effects upon health. The ground does not usu- ally become much frozen till some time in November, and about the 2oth of that month the ponds and streams begin to be covered with ice, and the narrow parts of lake Champlain become so much frozen as to prevent the navigation from White- hall to St. Johns, and the line boats go in- to winter quarters, but the broad portions of the lake continue open till near the first of February, and the ferry boats from Bur- lington usually cross till the first of Jan- uary. The following table contains the times of the closing and the opening of the broad lake opposite to Burlington, and when the steamboats commenced and stopped their regular trips through the lake from Whitehall to St. Johns, for sev- eral years past : Year. 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 3 823 1824 182.5 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 183] 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 Lake Charapl'n closed. Feb. 9 Jan. 29 Feb. 2 Mar. 4 C Feb.3 iMr. 8 Jan. 15 Jan. 24 Feb. 7 Jan. 22 Feb. 9 Feb. 1 Jan. 21 not clos'd Jan. 31 Feb. 6 Feb. 2 Feb. 13 ( Janl 0 [ Feb 7 Jan. 27 Jan. 15 Feb. 2 Jan. 25 Jan. 25 Feb. 18 not clob'd Lake Champl'n opened. Apr. 16 Apr. 15 Apr. 17 Feb. Mar. 12 Apr. 21 Mar. 30 Apr. 5 Feb. 11 Mar. 24 Mar. 31 Apr. Apr. Apr. Feb. Jan. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Feb. Apr. Lineboats comenc'd running. Apr. 25 Apr. 15 Apr. 6 Apr. 11 Apr. 23 Apr. 8 Apr. 4 Apr. 21 Apr. 25 Apr. 2i:) Apr. 19 Apr. 11 Apr. 11 Apr 2S Apr 13 Line Boats stopped. Dec. 5 Nov. 29 Nov. 29 Dec. 10 Nov. 26 Nov. 28 Dec. 1 It frequently happens that the ice con- tinues upon the lake for some time after the snows are gone in its neighborhood and the spring considerably advanced. In such seasons the ice often disappears very suddenly, instances having been observed of the lake being entirely cov- ered with ice on one day and the next day no ice was to be seen, it all having dis- appeared in a single night. People in the neighborhood, being unable to account for its vanishing thus suddenly in any other way, have very generally supposed it to sink. This opinion is advanced in the account of this lake contained in Spaf- ford's Gazetteer of New York, and the anomaly is very gravely attempted to be accounted for on philosophical principles. But the true explanation of this phenom- enon does not require the absurdity of the sinking of a lighter body in a heavier. It is a simple result of the law by which heat is propagated in fluids. That bodies are expanded, or contracted, according to the increase or diminution of the heat they contain, is a very general law of nature. Fresh water observes this law, when its temperature is above 40°, but below 40° the law is reversed, and it expands with the reduction of temperature. When winter sets in, the waters of the lake are much warmer than the incum- bent atmosphere. The surface, therefore, of the water communicates its heat to the atmosphere, and, becoming heavier in consequence, sinks, admitting the warmer water from below to the surface. Now since heat is propagated in fluids almosten- tirelybythe motion of the fluids, this cir- culationwill go on, if the cold continues, till all the water from the surface downward to the bottom is cooled down to the tem- perature of 40°. It will then cease. The colder water now being lighter than that below, will remain at the surface and soon be brought down to the freezing point and congealed into ice. This accounts for the ice taking soonest where the water is most shallow, and also for the closing of the broad parts of the lake earliest in those winters in which there is most high wind, the process of cooling being facilitated thereby. After the ice is formed over the lake, and during the coldest weather, the great mass of water, after getting a few inches below the ice, is of a temperature 8° above the freezing point. While the cold is se- vere, the ice will continue to increase in thickness, but the mass of water below the ice will be unaffected by the tempera- ture of the atmosphere above. Now the mean annual temperature of the climate in the neighborhood of lake Champlain Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 15 FORMATION OF ANCHOR-ICE. SMOKY ATMOSPHERE. DARK DAYS. docs not vary much from 45°, and this is about the uniform temperature of the earth at some distance below the surface. While tlien the mass of the waters of the lake is at 40", and ice is forming at the top, the earth, beneath the water, is at the temperature of 45°, or 5° warmer than the water. Heat will, therefore, be constantly imparted to the water from beneath, when the temperature of the water is less than 45°. The only effect of this communica- tion of heat to the water from beneath, during the earlier and colder parts of the winter, is to retard the cooling of the lake and the formation of ice upon its surface. But after the cold abates in the end of winter and beginning of spring, so that the lower parts of the ice arc not affected by the frosts from above, the heat, which is communicated from below, acts upon the under surface of the ice, and, in con- junction with the sun's rays, which pass through the transparent surface and are intercepted by the more opaque parts below,* dissolves the softer portions, rendering it porous and loose like wet snow, while the upper surface of the ice, hardened by occasional frosts, continues comparatively more compact and firm. In this state of things, it often happens that, by a strong wind, a rent is made in the ice. The waters of the lake are immedi- ately put in motion, the rotten ice falls in- to small fragments, and, being violently agitated, in conjunction with the warmer water beneath, it all dissolves and van- ishes in the course of a few hours. There is one phenomenon, which is of common occurrennce in many of our streams, during the coldest part of win- ter, and which may not at first appear reconcilable with what has been said above, and that is, the formation of ice upon the stones at the bottom of the streams, usually called anchor ice. An- chor ice is formed at falls and places where the current is so rapid that ice is not formed upon the surface. In the case of running water, and particularly where the water is not deep and the current rapid, over a rough bottom, the tempera- ture of the whole mass is probably reduced nearly or quite to the freezing point be- fore any ice is formed ; and then, where the current is so rapid that the ice cannot form at the surface, the ice-cold waters of the surface, in their tumultuous de- * A remarkable phenomenon attending this dis- integration of the ice by the influence of the sun's rays, and one which we think worthy of investiga- tion, is its separation into parallel icicles, or can- dles, as they are sometimes called, extending per- pendicularly from the upi)er to the lower surface of the ice, giving tlio mass, particularly the lower por- tions, gomewliat the appearance of a honey comb. scent, are successively brought in contact with the stones at the bottom, which, themselves, soon become ice-cold, after which they serve as nuclei upon which the waters are crystilized and retained by attraction, forming anchor ice. Smoky Mmosplicre, — From the earliest settlement of this country there have been observed a number of days, both in spring and autumn, on which the atmosphere was heavily loaded with smoke. The smoke has generally been supposed to re- sult wholly from extensive burnings in some unknown part of the country. There is no doubt but that much of the smoke often is produced in this way, but it haa appeared to us, that, since smoke is not a product, but a defect, of combustion, it maybe possible for it to be produced even where there is no fire. We have been led to this conclusion by observing that the amount of smoke has not always been greatest in those years in which burnings were known to be most extensive ; and by observing, moreover, that the atmos- phere was usually most loaded with smoke in those autumns and springs which suc- ceeded warm and productive summers. These circumstances have led us to the opinion that the atmosphere may, by its solvent power, raise and support the mi- nute particles of decaying leaves and plants, with no greater heat than is ne- cessary to produce rapid decomposition. When, by the united action of the heat and moisture of autumn and spring, the leaves are separated into minute particles, we suppose these particles may be taken up by the atmosphere, before they are en- tirely separated into their original ele- ments, or permitted to form new com- pounds. This process goes on insensibly, until, by some atmospheric change, a con- densation takes place, which renders the effiuvia visible, with all the ajjpearance and properties of smoke. Dark Days. — It sometimes happens that the atmosphere is so completely fill- ed with smoke as to occasion, especially when accompanied by clouds, a darkness, in the day-time, approaching to that of night. Tiie most remarkable occurren- ces of this kind, within our own recollec- tion, were in the fall of 18] 9, and in the spring of 1820. At both of these seasons, the darkness was so great, for a while near the middle of the day, that a book of ordinary print could not be read by the sun's light. The darkness in both cases was occasioned jjrincipally by smoke, and without any known extensive burnings- but the summer of 1819, is known to have been remarkable for the abundant growtii of vegetation. But the most remarkable 16 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part. I. DARK DAY. INDIAN SUMMER. METEORS. darkness of this nature, wliich has occur- red since the settlement ot" this country, was on the memorable l!.)th of May, 1780, emphatically denominated the dark daij. The darkness at that time is known to have covered all the northern parts of the United States and Canada, and to have reached from lake Huron eastward over a considerable portion of the Atlan- tic ocean. It was occasioned chiefly by a dense smoke, which evidently had a pro- gressive motion from southwest to noth- east. In some places it was attended with clouds and in some few with rain. The darkness was not of the same intensity in all places, but was so great through near- ly the whole of this extensive region as to cause an entire suspension of business during the greater part of the day, where the country was settled, and in many pla- ces it was such as to render candles as necessary as at midnight. Several hypoth- eses have been advanced to account for this remarkable darkness, such as an erup- tion of a volcano in the interior of the continent, the burning of prairies, &c , but by the one advanced in the preceding article, it receives an easy explication. The regions at the southwest are known to be extremely productive, and to have been, at that period, deeply covered with forest sand plants, whose leaves and perish- able parts would be sufficient, during their decay, to fill the atmosphere to almost any extent ; and nothing more would be neces- sary for the production of the phenome- non, than a change of atmospheric press- ure, which should produce a sudden con- densation, and a southwesterly wind. Indian Summer. — It has been said, though we do not vouch for its truth, that it was a maxim with the aborigines of tliis country, which had been handed down from time immemorial, that there would be 30 smoky days both in the sprino- and autumn of each year; and their reliance upon the occurrence of that number in autumn was such that they had no fears of winter setting in till the number was completed. This phenomenon occurred between the middle of October and the middle of December, but principally in JNovember ; and it being usuall)^ attended by an almost perfect calm, and a hio-h temperature during the day, our ances- tors, perhaps in allusion to the above maxim, gave it the name of Indian Sum- mer. But it appears that from the com- mencement of tlie settlement of the coun- try, the Indian Summers have gradually become more and more irregular and less strikingly marked in their character, Jh- til they have almost ceased to be noticed. Now upon the hypothesis advanced in the I preceding articles, this is precisely vi'hat we should expect. When our ancestors arrived in this country, the whole conti- nent was covered with one uninterrupted, luxuriant mantle of vegetation, and the amount of leaves and other vegetable pro- ductions, which were then exposed to spontaneous dissolution upon the surface of the ground, would be much . greater than after the forests were cut down and the lands cultivated. Every portion of the country being equally shielded by the forest, the heat, though less intense, on account of the immense evaporation and other concurring causes, would be more uniformly distributed, and the changes of wind and weather would be less fre- quent than after portions of the forests had been removed, and the atmosphere, over those portions, subjected to sudden expansions from the influence of the sun upon the exposed surface of the ground. It is very generally believed, tliat our winds are more variable, our weather more subject to sudden changes, our an- nual amount of snow less and our mean annual temperature higher than when the settlement of the country was com- menced. And causes, which would pro- duce these changes, would, we believe, be suflicient to destroy, in a great meas- ure, the peculiar features of our Indian Summers. The variableness of the winds, occasioned by cutting down large por- tions of the forests, would of itself be sufficient to scatter and precipitate those brooding oceans of smoke, and prevent the long continuance of those seasons of dark and solemn stillness, which were, in ages that are past, the unerring harbin- gers of long and dreary winters and delu- ges of snow. Meteors and Earlhqvnhcs. — Upon these subjects Vermont affords nothing peculiar. The common phenomenon of shooting stars is witnessed here as in other parts of the country, and those uncommon dis- plays which have several times occurred about the ]3th of November, have been observed from various parts of the state. In addition to these, several of those rare meteors, from which meteorolites or me- teoric stones are thrown, have been no- ticed, but the records of them are few and meagre. These meteors make their ap- peirance so unexpectedlj^ and suddenly, and continue visible for so short a period of time, that it is hardly possible to make oliservations sufficiently accurate to fur- nish data for calcidating their velocity, distance or magnitude. That most re- markable meteor which passed over New England in a southerly direction in the morning of the 14th of December, 1807, Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 17 REMARKABLE METEORS. REMARKABLE METEORS. and from which fell large quantitins of meteoric stones in Weston, Connecticut, was seen fromRutland in this state, and the observation there made formed one of the elements in Dr. Bowditch's calculations of its velocity, distance and size. A me- teor of the same kind passed over New England and New York in a southwest- erly direction a little before 10 o'clock in the evening of the 23d of February, 1819, and was seen from many parts of Ver- mont. We had the pleasure of witness- ing it at Bridgewater in this state. The meteor there made its appearance about 10° south of the zenith, and, descending rapidly towards tlie southwest, it disap- peared when about '25° above the horizon. Indeed, its velocity was such over Wind- sor and Rutland counties as to give to all, who observed it, though at the distance of 10,20 and even 30 miles from each other, along the line of its course, the impres- sion that its fall was nearly perpendicular; and each observer supposed that it fell within a few hundred yards of himself. Now as this meteor was probably moving nearly parallel to the horizon, the decep- tion must have arisen from the rapid dim- inution of the visible angle between the meteor and the horizon, occasioned bj' the great horizontal velocity of the meteor in its departure from the zenith of the ob- server. These facts should teach us to guard against the illusions of our own senses and to admit with caution the tes- timony of others respecting phenomena of this nature. According to the best of our judgment, the meteor was visible three or four sec- onds, in which time it passed through an arc of near 50° of the heavens. Its ap- parent diameter was about 20', or two thirds that of the moon, and tlie color of its light was very white and dazzling, like that of iron in a furnace in a state of fu- sion. It left a long train of light behind it, and just at the time of disappearance a violent scintillation was observed, and tlie fragments detached continued luminous at considerable distance from the main body of the meteor, but no meteoralites are known to have fallen. Five or six minutes after the disappearance of the meteor, a very distinct report was hoard accompanied by a jarring of the earth, like the report of a cannon at the distance of five or six miles. Now, assuming the correctness of the above data, and that the report was given at the time of the scintillation, the distance of the meteor was then between 70 and 80 miles, and its diameter about one third of a mile. Another, and still more remarkable me- teor, was seen from this state as well as Ft. I. 3 from the rest of New England, and from New York and Canada, about 10 o'clock in the evening of the !)th of March, 1822. From observations made at Burlington and Windsor, Prof. Dean computed its course to be S. 35° W., its distance from Burlington 59 miles and from Windsor 83 miles, and its height above the earth about '^7 miles when it first appeared, and when it disappeared its distance from Burling- ton was 144 miles and its distance from Windsor 133 miles and its height 29 miles. According to these computations, at tlic first appearance of the meteor, it was ver- tical over the unsettled parts of Essex county in the state of New York, and at its disappearance, it was over the western part of Schoharie county in the same state. Several other meteors of this kind have been observed, the most remarkable of which was seen from the northern part of the state and frqm nearly tlie whole of Lower Canada, about 4 o'clock in the morning of the 28th of May, 1834. It be- ing a time when people generally were in bed and asleep, comparatively few had the opportunitj' of seeing it. Many, however, were awakened by its light, and still more by its report. Residing then at Hatlej' in Canada, which is 15 miles north of the north line of Vermont at Derby, we were suddenly awakened by a noise resembling that of a large number of heavy carriages driven furiously over a rough road or pavement, and by a shaking of the house, which caused a rattling of every door and window. Supposing it to he an earth- quake, we sprung out of bed and reached the door two seconds at least before the sound ceased. The atmosphere was calm and the sky was perfectly clear, with the exception of a narrow train of cloud or smoke, extending from southwest to north- east, and at considerable distance to the northward of the zenith. It was nearly motionless, and was apparently at a vastly greater height than clouds usually lie. Indeed there was somethincr so peculiar in its appearance as to make it the sub- ject of remark and careful observation till after sunrise, when it gradually vanished, although at this time we had no reason to suspect its connexion with the noise and shaking of the earth, which had awaken- ed us. We, however, soon learned that a remarkable meteor had been seen, and that its course lay along the very line oc- cupied by the remarkable cloud above mentioned. From an intelligent young man, who was fishing at the time on Mas- suippi lake in Hatley, and who had a full view of the meteor during the whole time it was visible, we learned that it made its 18 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part 1. NEW ENGLAND EARTHQUAKES. AURORA BOREALIS. appearance at a point a little north of west at an elevation of about 35°, passed the meridian at a considerable distance north of the zenith and disappeared in the northeast with an altitude of about 25°. He thought its apparent magnitude to be 8 or 10 times that of tlie moon, and that it was visible about 10 seconds. It was of a fiery red color, brightest when it first appeared; and gradually decreased in brill- iancy, all the time throwing off sparks, till it disappeared. About 4 minutes af- ter the vanishing of the meteor, a rumb- ling or rattling sound, which sensibly agitated the surface of the lake, com- menced in the point where the meteor was first seen, and following the course of the meteor died away at the point where the meteor vanished. This meteor was vertical on a north and south line,about 50 miles to the northward of Derby in this state, or nearly over Shipton in Canada, and its altitude must have been at least 30 miles, and still the agitation it pro- duced in the atmosphere was such as to break considerable quantities of glass in the windows at Shipton, Melbourne and some other places. The course of this meteor was mostly over an unsettled country. The most remarkable circum- stances attending this meteor were the train of smoke which it left behind, and the long continued noise and shaking of the earth . Since the settlement of New England, there have been recorded a considerable number of earthquakes, and several have been noticed in Vermont. The sound accompanying these is usually described as havinc a progressive motion ; and that, and the shaking of the earth have been supposed to be produced by the rushing of steam through the cavities in the interior of the earth, but the effect known to have been produced by the meteor last de- scribed, furnishes strong reasons for sus- pecting that the cause of many, and per- haps of all the earthquakes which have occurred in New England, has been in the atmosphere above instead of the earth beneath. Had this meteor passed with- out being seen, the sound and shaking of the earth, which it produced, would have been regarded as a real earthquake, and its origin in the atmosphere would not have been suspected. Aurora Borealis. — This meteor has been very common in Vermont, ever since the first settlement of the state ; but in some years it is of more frequent occurrence, and exhibits itself in a more interesting and wonderful manner than in others. Its mostcommon appearance is thatof streams of white light shooting up from near the horizon towards a point not far from the zenith ; but at times it assumes forms as various and fantastic as can well be im- agined, and exhibits all the colors of the rainbow. It is not uncommon that it takes the form of concentric arches spanning the heavens from west to east, usually at the north, but sometimes passing through the zenith, or even at considerable distance to the south of it. At times the meteor is apparently motionless, but it is not an un« common thing for it to exhibit a violent undulating motion like the whipping of a flag in a brisk wind. But it is so variable in its appearance, that it is vain to attempt its description. We will, however, men- tion a kw of the remarkable occurrences of this meteor which have fallen under our own observation, and some of the at- tending circumstances. On the 12th of October, 1819, at about 7 o'clock in the evening, the Aurora Bo- realis assumed the form of three luminous resplendant arches, completely spanning the heavens from west to east. The low- est arch was in the north a little below the pole star, the second about midway between the pole star and the zenith, and the third 10° or 15° to the southward of the zenith. These belts gradually spread out till they became blended with each other, and the wliole concave heavens was lit up with a soft and beautiful glow of white light. It would then concentrate to particular points whose brightness would equal that of an ordinary par- helion, and around them would be exhib- ited the prismatic colors melting into each other in all their mellow loveliness. The motions of the meteor were rapid, undu- latory and from north to south varying a little towards the zenith. The sky was clear and of a deep blue color where it was not overspread by the meteor. It was succeeded in the morning of the 13th by a slight fall of snow with a northwest wind. The aurora exhibited itself in a manner very similar to the above in the evening of the 3d of April, 1820, and sev- eral times since. But the most remarkable exhibition of this meteor, which has fallen under our own observation, was in the evening of the 25th of January, 1837. It first attract- ed our attention at about half past 6 o'clock in the evening. It then consisted of an arch of faint red light extending from the northwest and terminating nearly in the east, and crossing the meridian 15 or 20° north of the zenith. This arch soon assumed a bright red hue and grad- ually moved towards the south. To the northward of it, the sky was nearly black, in which but few stars could be seen. Next Chap. 1. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 19 AURORA BOREALIS. MAGNETIC VARIATION. to the red belt was a belt of white light, and beyond this in tliat direction, the sky was much darker than usual, but no clouds were any whereto be seen. The red belt, increasing in width and brightness, ad- vanced towards the south and was in the zenith of Burlington about 7 o'clock. The light was then equal to the full moon, and the snow and every other object from which it was reflected, was deeply tinged with a red or bloody hue. Between the red and white belts, were frequently ex- hibited streams of beautiful yellow light, and to the northward of the red light were frequently seen delicate streams of blue and white curiously alternating and blending with eacli other. The most prominent and remarkable belt was of a blood-red color, and was continually va- rying in width and intensity. At eight o'clock, the meteor, though still brilliant, had lost most of its unusual properties. This meteor,when very brilliant, is usually regarded as an indication of an approach- ing storm, but, like other signs, it often fails. It is most common in the months of March, September and October, but it is not unusual in the other months. Alu.trnctic Variation. — Very few obser- vations have hitherto been made in Ver- mont for the purpose of determining the variation of the magnetic needle, and these few have generally been made with a common surveyor's compass, and, prob- ably, in most cases, without a very cor- rect determination of the true meridian; and hence they cannot lay claim to very minute accuracy. But since such obser- vations may serve to present a general view of the amount and change of varia- tion, since the settlement of the state, we have embodied those to which we have had access, in the following table. Magnetic Variation in Vermont. Place of Observation. Date. Vari. west. Latitude. Lon.w.'j'l Authorities. Burlington, 170.3 7°38' 44" 28' 73" Dr. S. Williams. " 1818 7 30 (( J. Johnson, Esq. (( 1822 7 42 (( Eurove. Jlmirica. Differ- tude. Mean Temp. Mean Temp. ences. 30° 70.1° 66 8° 3.3° 35 66.5 60.5 6.0 40 63.1 54.2 8.9 4.5 56.8 45.0 11.8 50 50.8 37.9 12.9 55 46 0 28.0 180 60 40.0 18.0 22.0 A contrast so remarkable, as is exhibit- ed in the preceding table, has been the source of much speculation, but, as it ap- pears to us, without throwing much light upon the true cause of the phenomenon. Among the earliest writers who at- tempted to account for it was Father Bres- ani, an Italian Jesuit, who spent most of his life in Canada. He says that " a cer- tain mixture of dry and moist makes ice, and that in Canada there is a remarkable mixture of water and dry sandy soil; and hence the long duration of cold and great quantities of snow." To this he adds an- other cause, which is " the neighborhood of the northern sea, which is covered with monstrous heaps of ice, more than 8 months of the year." FatherCharlevoix, who visited Canada in 1720, and from whose travels the forgoing opinions of Bresani are taken, says* that, in his opin- ion," " no person has explained the cause, why this country is so much colder than France in the same latitude." "Most writers," he continues, "attribute it to the snow lying so long and deep on the ground. But this only makes the difficul- ty worse. Whence those great quanti- ties of snow.''" His own opinion is that the cold and snow are to be attributed to the mountains, woods and lakes. Many European writers have supposed the great lakes, which abound in the country, to be the cause of the coldness of our cli- mate; while others have imagined that there must be a chain of very high moun- ■ tains in the interior of the continent, run- ning from southwest to northeast, which produce the coldness of our north wester- ly winds. Poet. Dwight supposes these * Charlevoixs Trawls in America, Vol. 1. p. 136' 22 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. CHANGE OF CLIMATE. CURRENTS OF THE OCEAN. winds to be descending currents from the higher regions of the atmosphere ; and hence their coldness. Doct. Holyoke at- tributed the coldness of our climate to the extensive forests of evergreens. Doct. Williams, the able historian of Vermont, attributed it to the forest state of' the country, and has endeavoured to prove that, eighteen centuries ago, the climate of Europe was even colder than that of America at the present time.* But other writers have, with equal plausibility, shown that no considerable change has taken place in the mean temperature of Europe within that period. f The fact, moreover, that the western coasts of America, which are wholly uncultivated, are very much warmer than the eastern coasts of Asia in the same latitude, which are cultivated to considerable extent, shows that these differences of tempera- ture do not depend upon cultivation, nor, indeed, upon any of the causes which have been mentioned, but upon some more general cause. And this cause, we be- lieve, is to be sought in the influence of the ocean upon the prevailing winds in high northern latitudes. We regard the ocean as the great equalizer of tempera- ture upon the surface of our globe — as the instrument for distributing the heat of the equatorial regions towaurds the poles and bringing thence cold towards the equator, and thus meliorating the climate of both. We look upon it as a truth es- tablished both by theory and fact that there is a general circulation of the wa- ters of the ocean between the equatorial and polar regions — that the warm, water from the equator is flowing along the sur- face of the ocean towards the poles, while the colder water from the poles is ad- vancing along the bottom of the ocean to- wards the equator. Such a motion of the waters might be inferred, as the result of the unequal distribution of heat through the oceanic mass, increased by the rota- tion of the earth on its axis. But inde- pendent of tills, facts furnish indubitable proof of its existence. The temperature of the earth, at a distance below the sur- face, being a pretty correct index of the mean temperature of the climate, with- out the circulation we have supposed, the temperature of the ocean at consider- able depths, ought, particularly in the warmer parts of the year, to be as high, at least, as the mean annual tem- perature. But on the contrary, observa- tion proves it to be much lower. In lati- tude 67°, where the mean temperature is 39°, Lord Mulgrave found, on the 20th of June, when the temperature of the air was 48^", that the temperature of the ocean at the depth of 4680 feet, was 26", or 6" below the freezing point. On the 31st of August, in latitude 69' where the annual temperature is 38s, that of the air being 59^°, the temperature of the water at the depth of 4038 feet was 32°.* At the tropic where the temperature does not vary more than 1° or 8° during the year, at the depth of 3600 feet the tem- perature of the water was found to be on- ly SS", while that of the air was 84", making a difference of 31", and indicating a degree of cold in the lower parts of the ocean nearly 25° more intense than is ever experienced in the atmosphere in that- latitude,! How else can we account for the coldness of these waters, but by suppos- ing them to come from higher latitudes in the manner we have described ? Of the opposite motion of the warmer waters along the surface of the Atlantic ocean, from the equatorial towards the polar regions, the gulf stream, the currents setting along the western coasts of Nor- way, and the vast quantities of tropical productions, lodged upon the costs and islands of the northern ocean, aff'ord a- bundant proof. Now this transportation of the colder waters towards the equator and of the warmer waters towards the poles, serves, as already remarked, to mitigate the other- wise intolerable heat of the former, and the excessive cold of the latter ; and af- fords an obvious manifestation of the wis- dom and goodness of providence. And it is to the influence of the warm superfi- cial waters of the ocean, which have come from tropical regions, upon the winds, or currents of the atmosphere, that we are to look for the cause of the differ- ence of temperature in the climate of the eastern coasts of North America and the western coasts of Europe, and also in that of the eastern coasts of Asia and the west- ern coasts of North America. If we ob- serve the gulf stream, which is only a concentration by the trade winds of those warm waters which are flowing norther- ly along the surface of the ocean, we shall perceive it to be very narrow, pre- senting to the atmosphere only a small surface of Its warm water, while near the American coast. But as it proceeds to the northeast its warm waters are spread out upon the surface of the ocean and are thrown directly along or upon the west- ern coasts of Europe. Observation also shows that the prevailing winds in high northern latitudes, are from a north west- * Williams' History of Vermont, Vol. 1, p. 475. * Count Rumford'a Essays, Vol. II. page 304 t Edinburgh Review, Vol. XXX, p. 35. ' f Phil. Transactions, 1752. CB^r- CtASSIFICATlON OF ANIMALS. QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. 23 OKDJ^RS OF (UAMMAI'IA^ prly direction, or passing nearly at right no-les across the great northeasterly cur- rent of the ocean, and we believe it to be the influence of these warm waters of the ocean upon the westerly and northwester- ly winds, which produces the phenomenon in question. On the eastern coasts of North America, these winds come from mountainous, snowy regions, or from lakes and seas, which are covered with ice the greater part of the year; and hence they are excessively cold. In their progress over the Atlantic, they are grad- ually warmed by imbibing heat from the surface of the ocean, so that when they arrive upon the continent of Europe, their temperature is so much elevated as to produce the remarkable difference obser- ved between the climates of the coasts of the two continents.* CHAPTER II. QUADRUl^EDS OF VERMONT.. Prelimijiary Observations. AH animals are divided by Baron Cu- vier, the celebrated French naturalist, whose arrangement we shall endeavor mainly to follow, into four general divis- ions, viz. I. Vcrtehraied aniTnals, OT such as have a spine, or back bone, II. Molus- cous animals, or such as have no skele- ton, [II. Aj-ticulatcd animals, -whose trunk is divided into rings, and IV. Radiated animals, or zoophytes. The first division embraces the mammalia, the birds, the rep- tiles and the fishes ; the second, the shell flslies ; the third, the insects, and the fourth, polypi. In this work we shall at- tempt but little beyond an account of our vertebrated and moluscous animals. MAMMALIA. The Mammalia are such animals as suckle their young, and are divided by Cuvier into the following orders : I. J5imana-^havingtwo hands and three kinds of teeth. Man is the only species. II. Quadi-umana — animals having four hands and three kinds of teeth. Mon- kies and baboons belong to this order. III. Carnivora — having three kinds of teeth and living principally upon animal food, as the dog, cat, &.c. IV. .Wifi!.7-s7yjMih'ffl-producing their young prematurely and bringing them to perfec- tion in an abdominal pouch, which inclos- es the teats, of which the opossum is an example. V. Rodantia — have large incisory teeth suitable for gnawing, and grinders with flat or tuberculated crowns, but no canine teeth, as the rat, beaver, &c. VI. Edentata — having no incisory teeth in either jaw, and in some genera no teeth at all, of which the sloth and ant eater are examples. VII. Pachydermata having either three or two kinds of teeth, toes variable in number and furnished with strong nails or hoofs, and the digestive organs not formed for ruminating, as the horse, elephant and hog. VIII. Ruminantia— 'having no incisory teeth in the upper jaw, cloven hoofed feet, and four stomachs fitted for rumina- ting, or chewing the cud, as the ox, sheep, deer, &c. IX. Cetacea — Aquatic animals having their bodies shaped like fishes, as the whale, dolphin, &c. Of these nine orders of animals, only thre^e are found in Vermont, in a wild state. These are the Carnivora, the Ro- dentia and the Ruminantia. We have one order more, the Pachydermata, among our domestic quadrupeds, including the horse, ass and hog. * Mr. Daniels in bis meteorological essays en- deavors to account for the liighcr temperature of the western coasts of continents in a different manner. Ho supposes the northwesterly winds to arrive loaded with vapor and that the caloric, liberated by its condensation, raises the general temperature of the atmosphere on the western coast; but, as the winds proceed eastward, they oecome dryer and when they roach the eastern coasts contain little vapor to be condensed, and consequently do not produce an elevation of tem- perature. If this were the principal cause of tlie phenomenon under consideration, the quantity of rain on tl>e western coasts should be greater than upon the eastern in proportion as the temperature is higher, but so far as observations extend the re- verse of this seems to be true, the quantity of rain on the eastern coast being greatest. 24 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. CATALOGUE OF ftCADRUPEDS, CARNIVERODS ANIMALS. QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. The following is a catalogue of the na- tive quadrupeds of Vermont, arranged in the order, in which they are described in the following pages : Order CATisivoB.A-Carniverous Animals. Vespertilio suhulatus, " pruinosus, " carolinensis, " noctivagans, Sorex Forsteri, " brevicaudus, Scalops canadensis^ Condylura macroura, Ursus amcricanus, Procyon lotor, Gulo luscus, Mustcla vulgaris^ " erminea, " vison, " canadensis, " martcs. Mephitis americanu, Lutra brasiliensis, Canis lupus, " fulvus, " var. decussatus, " var.argentatus, Felis canadensis, " rufa, " concolor, Phoca vitutina. Say's Bat. Hoary Bat. Carolina Bat. Silver-haired Bat. Forster's Shrew. Short tail Shrew. Shrew Mole. Star-nosed Mole. Black Bear. Raccoon. Wolverene. Weasel. Ermine. Mink. Fisher Martin. Pine Martin. Skunk. American Otter. Wolf Red Fox. Cross Fox. Black or SilverFox. Lynx. Bay Lynx. Catamount. ' Common Seal. Order Rodentia — Gnawing Animals. Castor fiber. Fiber zibethicus, Arvicola riparius, Mus decumanus, " rattus, " musculus, Gerbillus canadensis, Arctomys monax, Sciurus cinereus, " nigcr, " hudsonius, " striatus, Pteromys volucclla, Hystrix dorsata, Lepus americanus, " virginianus. Beaver. Musk Rat. Meadow Mouse. Norway Rat. Black Rat. Common Mouse. Jumping Mouse. Woodchuck. Gray Squirrel. Black Squirrel. Red Squirrel. Stiped Squirrel. Flying Squirrel. Hedge Hog. Rabbit. Hare. OrverRv^us AfiTiA-Rujninating Animals. Ccrvus alecs. Moose. " canadensis. Elk. " virginianus, Common Deer. Order CARNIVORA. The animals of this order have three kinds of teeth, a simple, memhranaceous stomach, and short intestines. They live principally on flesh, or animal food. Genus Vespertilio. — Linnaus. Generic Characters. — Teeth from 32 to 36,— incisors 4. canines 1-1. grind. A-i. &..Lto%-5 6> Il'° 5 5> 5 5 .66" Upper incisors in pairs, cylindrical and pointed ; the anterior grinders simply conical, posterior having short points or prominences. Nose, simple, without grooves, or wrinkles; ears, with an auriculum, lateral and more or less large ; tongue smooth, and not protractile ; index finger with but one piialanx, the middle with three, the annular and little finger with two ; tail comprised in the interfemoral membrane ; sebaceous glands under the skin of the face, which vary in different species. The bats consist of a great number of species, but they agree very nearly in their general form and habits. They pro- duce and nourish their young in the man- ner of other quadrupeds, but unlike them they are furnished with delicate mem- branous wings upon which they spend much of their time in the air, thus seem- ing to form the connecting link between the quadrupeds and birds. They are noc- turnal in their habits, lying concealed during the day, but venturing abroad on the approach of evening, during the early part of which they may be seen flitting lightly and noiselessly through the air in quest of food, which consists chiefly of in- sects. At such times they often enter the open windows of our dwellings and sometimes commit depredations upon our larders, being exceedingly fond of fresh meat. Their nocturnal habits manifest themselves in the domesticated state as well as the wild, and it is with diflrculty that they are made to mount upon their wings, or take food during the day, but in the evening they devour food vora- ciously and fly about the room without reluctance. On the approach of winter bats retire to dry caverns and hollow trees where they suspend themselves by the hooked nails of their hind feet, and thus remain in a torpid state during the win- ter. They void their excrement, which is found in abundance in these retreats, by reversing their position and suspend- ing themselves by the hooks upon their thumbs till their object is accomplished, when they resume their former position. Bats produce their young in June or July, and have from one to three at a time. The teats of the female are situated on the chest and to these, as we are assured by Dr. Godman, (Nat. His. L 56.), the young attach themselves so firmly as to be carried about by tiie mother in her flight, till they have attained a considera- ble size. The four following species are all that have hitherto been distinguished in Vermont. It is, however, probable that othersmay hereafter be detecte^. Chap. 2. QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. "" say's eat. HOAKV BAT. CAROLINA BAT. SAY'S BAT- Vespertilio suhulutiis. — Say. Description. — Head sliort, broad and flat ; nose blunt witJi a small, flat, naked muzzle ; eyes small, situated near the ears and covered with fur ; ears longer than the head, thin ovate, obtuse and hairy at the base behind ; tragus thin, broadly subulate below, tapering upwards and ending in an obtuse tip, at about two thirds the height of the ear ; color of the back yellowish brown, the bell}' yellow- ish gray ; fur soft and fine, and blackish towards the roots ; head covered with fur, excepting about the nostrils ; color blackish about the mouth ; whiskers few, short and stiff; membrane between the hind legs broad, thinly covered with fur next the body, and tapering to a point near the extremity of the tail, which it envelopes; toes of the hind feet long; hooked thumb including the nail \ of an inch. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 2 inches ; tail 1^ inches ; spread of the wings, 10 inches. History. — This Bat seems to be distrib- uted very generall}' through the conti- nent. It was first described scientifically by Mr. Say, in the notes to the account of Long's expedition, from a specimen ob- tained at the foot of tjie Rocky Moun- tains. It was afterwards minutely descri- bed by Dr. Richardson from specimens ob- tained on the upper branches of the Sas- katchewan and Peace rivers.* Speci- mens have since been obtained from Lab- rador, Georgia, Ohio, New Hampshire and Columbia river. It is one of the small- est, and, I think, the most common Bat found in Vermont, especially in the cen- tral mountainous parts, where it gnters the houses in the evening and is easily captured. The specimen, from which my description was drawn was taken in Wa- terbury. THE HOARY BAT. Vespertilio pruinosus. — Say. Description.— Rars broad, shorter than tiie head, broadly emarginate behind, hairy on the outside more than half the length, */'aiirta Boreali Americana, j:ii4rt 1. p 4 Pt. I. 4 and at the central part of the inside , tra- gus bent, c!ub-shaj)od and blunt at the tip. Canine teeth large and prominent; incisors in the upper jaw conical with a tubercle near the base, very near the ca- nines, and nearly in a line with them ; snout cartilaginous and moveable; nos- trils wide apart. Eyes black and promi- nent. Fur on the body blackish brown at its base, then pale brownish yellow, then Brownish and terminated with clear, delicate white, like hoar frost ; furonthc throat, on and about the ears, and on the inside of the wings towards their ba.se, fulvous ; snout, chin, margin of the ears and the posterior part of the wing mem- brane, blackish ; the anterior parFof the wings and the base of the fur on the in- terfcmoral membrane, dark chestnut. Tail, wholly embraced in the interfemoral membrane, which is thickly covered with fur, except at the very posterior extremi- ty. Length of the specimen before me, frointhe snout to the extremity of the tail, .5.i inches ; spread of the wintrs, when fully extended, IGi inches. '^ HiSToKv.— This" bat was also first de- scribed by Say in Long's expedition and has since been ininutely described by Richardson,* Coopert and others. It has been found in most parts of the United States and was obtained bv Dr. Richardson as far north as lat. 54°. It is not common m Vermont, but is occasionally met with. The only Vermont specimen, v,hicb I have examined, and that from which the pre- ceding description was drawn, was sent me alive by my friend, David Reed, Esq., of Colchester. It was taken at his place in Colchester the latter part of October, 1841, and was kept alive for some time in a large willow basket v.'ith a flat cover of the same material. On opening tlie bas- ket, he was almost invariably found sus- pended by his hind claws from the central part of the cover. When the basket was open, he manifested little fear, or disposi- tion to fly, or get away, during the day time, but in the evening would readily mount on the wing and fly about the room, and o^,Ji^•hting always suspended himself by his hind claws with his head downward. He ate fearlessly and vora- ciously of fresh meat when oflcred lo him, but could not be made to eat the common house fly. CAROLINA BAT. Vespertilio carolinensis. — Gkoffrov. DF.scRiPTioN.--Ears rather large ant' naked, except on the back side near ^he * FdU'ia liorouli Aniericiina I. ji. I. t AiinaSs N. Y Lyceum of Nal. His. Vol. I\'. 54. 26 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I, SILVER-HAIRED BAT. forster's shrew. head, emarginate on the outer posterior edge, tragus shorter and less pointed than in Say's Bat. Head long and narrow; canine teeth very prominent ; snout, in- terfemoral and wing membranes black and entirely naked; a few scattering hairs on the feet. Fur on the head and back long and color uniform bright ferrugin- ous ; beneath yellowish brown ; last joint of the tail not enveloped in the membrane. Bones supporting the membrane ve'ry ap- parent. Length of the specimen before me, from the snout to the extremity of the tail 4.7 inches, head and body 3 inches, tail 1.7, fore arm 1.8, tibia .7, spread of the wings 1L5 inches. History. — Of the history of this bat I know nothing. It is said to be quite common in the southern states particular- ly in the Carolinas and Georgia and also on Long Island near New York. The only specimen I have seen and that from which the above description was made, was ta- ken in Burlington, and deposited in the museum of the college of Natural Histo- ry of the University of Vermont by Mr. John H. Morse, a student of the Univer- sity. A Vermont specimen of this species is also preserved in the museum of Nat. His. of Middlebury college. SILVER-HAIRED BAT. Vespertilio noctivagans. — Le Conte. DEScjupxroN. — Ears dusky black, rath- er large, naked on the anterior portion, somewhat ovate and obtuse, with two emarginations, on the outer jiosterior bor- der, produced by two plaits ; naked with- in, and with the tragus moderate, ovate and obtuse. Color above, a uniform dark dusky brown, approaching to black. On the back the fur is somewhat glossy and tipped with silvery white, forming an interrupted line across the shoulders, and thence irregularly mixed down the centre of the back. Interfemoral mem- brane thickly hairy on the upper part be- coming thinner downward and naked near the border. Tip of the tail projecting about a line beyond the membrane. Feet hairy. Wing membrane entirely naked. Beneath very similar to the upper parts, though the light colored tips of the hairs are more yellowish. Total length 3.8 in- ches, tail 1 5, fore-arm 1.8, tibia .8, spread of the wings 11 inches. History. — This Bat I have not seen in Vermont, but I am informed by my friend Prof Adams that there is a specimen of it, which was taken in this state, in the museum of Natural History of Middlebu- ry College. The above is Mr. Cooper's *Annal8 N. Y. Lyceum Nat. His. Vol. IV. p. 9 description of this Bat*, who says that "it was first described in 1831 by Major Le Conte and Dr. Harlan, and that it may be easily recognized by its dark black-brown fur tipped with white on the back." It was named V. noctivagans by Le Conte and F. Jludihoni, by Harlan, and the for- mer of these names is retained, because Le Conte's account was first published. Genus Sorex. — Linnccus. Generic Characters. — Teeth variable from 25 to 34. The two middle upper incisors hooked and dentated at their base ; the lower ones slanting and elongated ; lateral incisors small, usually five on each side above, and two below; grinders, most commonly 4 on each side above, and 3 below. The body is covered with fine, short fur ; toes, five on each foot, separate, fur- nished with hooked nails not proper for digging : head and nose elongated, the latter moveable ; ears short and rounded ; eyes small but vigible. FORSTER'S SHREW. Sorex Forsteri. — Richardsow. Description. — Color yellowish brown or dark olive above, bluish white or cin- erous beneath ; base of the fur plumbeous for two thirds its length both above and below ; teeth white at the base and at their points, deep chestnut brown ; tail long, four sided,, covered with short hair and terminated in a fine pencil of hairs ; feet small, light flesh-colored and nearly naked; nails slender and white; whiskers half an inch long, light brown. Length of the head and body 2 inches, tail 1.4, head .9, from the eye to the point of the nose .3. History. — This little animal is occa- sionally met with in our pastures and fields, having their places of retreat in stone walls and under old fences and logs. The specimen from which the above de- scription was made was taken in Bridge- water and is now in my possession. This shrew was first described by Dr. Richard- son who says that it is common throughout the fur countries, even as far north as the 67° of latitude and that its delicate foot- steps are often seen imprinted on the snow when the temperature is 40 or 50" below zero.* It is also found according to Dr. Bachman on Long Island in the vicinity of New York.t *Fauna Horeali, vol. I. page 6. fJournnI Acad. Nat. Sci. of Bhil. vol.Vtl p. S%. Chap. 2. QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. 27 SHORT-TAILED SHREW. SHREW MOLE- THE SHORT-TAILED SHREW. Sorex Brcoicaudus Say. Description. — Color of llie head, body sind tail dark plumbeous brown above, a little lighter beneath ; lips naked llcshy and flesh-colored; extremity of the snout brown, notched ; teeth tipped with dark chestnut brown at their points fading in- to white at their base ; feet flesh-colored, nearly naked and slender ; nails slender, white on the fore feet, and on the hind feet chestnut brown at the base and white at the tip. Tlie inner toe on each foot is shortest, the outer a little longer and the other three nearly equal, the tliird being a little the longest. The tail is squarish, largest in the middle, slightly strangula- ted at the base and sparsely covered with short hairs ; whiskers whitish, spanse, half an inch long, situated between the eye and the snout and turned backwards. No external ear, opening large. Total length of the specimen before me 4-8 inches, to the origin of the tail 3-8, tail ], head 1-1, hind foot to the point of the longest nail .6. History. — This species of Shrew bears a very considerable resemblance to the Shrew mole in its general appearance, but is much inierior to it in size, and dif- fers from it remarkably in the structure of its fore feet. As they seldom venture in- to cleared fields, very little is known of their habits, but in Uie woods they are of- ten seen and heard rustling among the leaves and digging little holes into the ground, probably in quest of food. This and the preceding species are occasionally caught and brought in by cats ; but they will seldom attempt to eat them on ac- count, probably^of their disagreeable mus- ky odor. In addition to the foregoing we certainly have one other species, and pro- bably more, but they require further ex- amination. Genus Scalops. — Cuvier. Generic Characters. — Teeth 36 to 44 — Incisors Z canines &.~