Report on the fishes, reptiles and birds of Massachusetts

Introduction

ON the 3d of March, 1830, a resolve passed the Legislature of Massachusetts, authorizing a general Trigonometrical Survey of the Commonwealth. This was followed, on the 5th of June of the same year, by a Resolve, introduced at the suggestion of Governor Lincoln, authorizing him to appoint a " suitable person to make a Geological Examination of the Commonwealth, in connexion with the General Survey."

Under this Resolve Prof. Hitchcock was appointed, and the manner in which he accomplished its objects is shown by his admirable Report, published in 1833.

In conformity with a Resolve of the Legislature, of February 2d, 1831, he was directed " to cause to be annexed to his report, a list of the native Mineralogical, Botanical and Zoological productions of the Commonwealth, so far as it may be practicable to ascertain the same, within the limits of the appropriation already made."

In the execution of this part of the commission, he received and acknowledged the " assistance of several gentlemen distinguished for their acquaintance with particular branches of natural history." The catalogues which were formed, were, in almost every instance, the first complete catalogues of the productions of the State, which had been attempted. In Botany, very full aciv INTRODUCTION.

counts had previously been given of the plants of particular districts ; of the plants about Boston, by Dr. Bigelow ; of those in the vicinity of Amherst, by Prof. Hitchcock ; of the plants of Berkshire, by Prof. Dewey. In Ornithology, very much had been done by Audubon, Wilson and Bonaparte, and still later by Nuttall. The catalogues in these departments are consequently vastly the most full and satisfactory. Many of the shells had been described by Say, and of the quadrupeds by Godman and others. But in most of the departments scarcely any thing had been done towards the formation of a complete list.

It was an important step to collect together and publish the catalogues, such as they were. Although, as Prof. Hitchcock had anticipated, they were far from being perfect or complete, they led immediately to inquiries amongst the naturalists in various parts of the State. And many names were soon added to the catalogue by members of the Boston Society of Natural History, and by others.

A view of these facts, and of the great importance of a full acquaintance with the natural productions, of all kinds, of our State, led to the desire, on the part of many intelligent citizens, that a more full survey should be attempted. Agreeably therefore to the suggestion of Governor Everett, on the immediate occasion of a letter from Professor Hitchcock to him, recommending that the geological survey should be prosecuted, and a more full botanical and zoological survey be made, the subject was called up in the House of Representatives, and a very respectable committee appointed, to take it into consideration. This committee, after conferring

INTRODUCTION. V

with a committee of the Boston Society of Natural History, reported in favor of a more full survey, and a resolve to the following effect was adopted :

" Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, is hereby authorized and requested to appoint some suitable person, or persons, to make a further and thorough Geological, Mineralogical, Botanical and Zoological Survey of this Commonwealth, under his direction, particularly in reference to the discovery of Coal, Marl, and Ores, and an analysis of the various soils of the State, relative to an Agricultural benefit. And he is hereby authorized to draw his warrant, from time to time, upon the treasurer of this Commonwealth, for any sum not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars, for the foregoing purposes. Approved 12th April, 1837."

For the execution of this Resolve, Prof. Hitchcock of Amherst, was appointed by Gov. Everett, to continue the Mineralogical and Geological Survey ; and Geo. B. Emerson of Boston, President of the Boston Society of Natural History, Chester Dewey, Professor of Botany, Materia Medica, &LC. in the Berkshire Medical Institution, Ebenezer Emmons, M, D., Prof, of Natural History, &c. Williams College, Rev. Wm. B. 0. Peabodv of Springfield, T. W. Harris, M. D., Librarian in Harvard University, D. H. Storer, M. D., and A. A. Gould, M. D. of Boston, Curators in the Boston Society of Natural History, were commissioned to take charge of the Botanical and Zoological Survey.

In the letter of Governor Everett, accompanying the commission for the latter survey, the chairman was instructed to confer with the other gentlemen on the commission, that separate portions of the work might

Vi INTRODUCTION.

be distributed, by mutual agreement, according to the preference of the individuals associated in the Survey.

A hope was expressed that, inasmuch as many portions of the Natural History of the Commonwealth had already been so well explored, the Survey might be completed within one year.. And the following instructions were given, explanatory of the view taken by the Executive, of the precise object of the Survey.

" It is presumed to have been a leading object of the Legislature, in authorizing the Survey, to promote the agricultural benefit of the Commonwealth, and you will keep carefully in view the economical relations of every subject of your inquiry. By this, however, it is not intended, that scientific order, method, or comprehension should be departed from. At the same time, that which is practically useful will receive a proportionally greater share of attention, than that which is merely curious ; the promotion of comfort and happiness being the great human end of all science."

The commission for this part of the Survey bore the date of June 10, 1837. As soon after this as it could conveniently be accomplished, an arrangement was agreed upon, by which Prof. Emmons undertook to report upon the Mammalia, Dr. Storer upon the Fishes and Reptiles, Mr. Peabody upon the Birds, Dr. Harris upon Insects and Araneides, Dr. Gould upon the Mollusca, Crustacea and Radiata, Prof. Dewey upon the Herbaceous Plants, and Mr. Emerson upon the Trees and other Ligneous Plants.

Agreeably to a plan proposed by the Chairman, and cordially assented to by every member of the Commission, it was agreed that, instead of confining themselves to completing the catalogue of the objects in the seve-

INTRODUCTION.

ral departments, each commissioner should endeavor, as far as possible, to study and describe every new object which should present itself in his own department, and where the descriptions already given were incomplete, or unsatisfactory, or contained in books not of easy access to the public, to re-describe, or make additions or changes, such as should seem best.

It was immediately seen that no final reports, that would be satisfactory, in this view of the work, could be made within the limits of a single year. Partial reports were therefore made by the five Commissioners on the Zoological departments, which, with a letter from the Chairman, were ordered to be printed ; and leave was asked and obtained, by all the Commissioners, to defer their reports for another year.

The Legislature, with that liberality which had given rise to the original Survey, and which is the best and most lasting distinction of enlightened governments, ordered the Survey to be continued, and appropriated to it such a sum as was thought sufficient to carry it into effect.

It is a gratifying reflection to the sons of Massachusetts, that this liberality has, from the beginning of its history been its distinguishing characteristic. In those early days, when, as a feeble colony, it was struggling for existence, it made what, considering its means, were magnificent appropriations for the education of its children ; for the developement of its intellectual resources. And, at every period, acting in the same spirit, it has made its schools and colleges, prominent and favored objects of legislative patronage.

It is but recently that the physical resources of a country have, any where, been an object towards which

INTRODUCTION.

the attention of its government has been directly turned. In most of even the farthest advanced of the monarchies of the old world, the earth and its mineral treasures, and the animal and vegetable productions of its surface, and of the sea, have been left to the unfostered attention, or to the unrebuked neglect of private intelligence or ignorance. In a few favored spots, a different and wiser course has been pursued. In France, in some of the northern kingdoms, in several states of Germany, and especially in Great Britain, large sums have been expended, and already very much has been done, to ascertain and bring to notice the advantages and wants, the peculiarities of every kind, of the land and sea, and their productions. And the resources developed have uniformly seemed to increase in proportion to the extent and minuteness of the investigation. New objects have been presented to the industry, and new sources of wealth opened to the enterprise of the inhabitants. So that, if we look through the world, we find that it is not those countries whose natural resources are apparently greatest, which support the most wealthy and advanced population, but those in which the natural resources, whatever they may be, have been explored, and laid open to the greatest extenL

It need not be repeated, that this truth, of such acknowledged importance under all governments, is of still more weighty consideration in a republican country than in any other. In free states like Massachusetts, as every where else, and still more than any where else, the fountains of the wealth and advancement of the people lie in their intelligence, skill, and industry, applied to the resources of the country. In them, therefore, every possible resource for their present and prospec-

INTRODUCTION. JX

live welfare, should be laid open. And the facts presented by a full survey of the natural productions of the State, can hardly fail to bring direct advantages, for the present and for the future.

The survey of the forests of Massachusetts, making known to the whole community the important fact that a greater variety of valuable trees is to be found within its limits than are known as native in the whole of Europe ; that it is wastefully and wantonly destroying a forest, which any enlightened country in Europe would willingly bestow a treasure to create ; that its climate and soil are well suited to many of the most valuable trees of other temperate countries, and that already there are thousands of acres lying barren and unimproved, which might easily be clad with a flourishing growth of trees, cannot but excite the attention of some of those who have it in their power to arrest this evil and to avail themselves of these truths.

The survey of the shrubs, and herbaceous and other plants, may, in like manner, be of great use, by showing that there exist materials for improvements in agriculture, and for use in many of the arts and in medicine, which might be substituted for others now imported from abroad. If, for example, it should appear that the wild rice, so valuable to the native indians of the western lakes, and which, without being known, occurs in many parts of the State, is capable of being cultivated in intervales now overflowed and producing only sedge and worthless grasses, and of being used as a substitute for oats as fodder, the fact would not be lost upon an agricultural community like ours. So the statement of the fact that lichens exist, similar to those which are much employed and highly valued in dying, and that our sea walls

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are covered with tjie same fuel which have converted barren rocks in Scotland into sources of immense wealth, might lead to important results.

The great resources of our State in its fisheries are already known. It cannot, however, be without its use, even in an economical point of view, at the moment when, by the opening of new markets, they are becoming still more valuable, to review their extent and examine the details. There are those now living, who remember the time, when, along a great portion of the New England coast, the halibut, when taken, was thrown away ; and the use of the flesh of the sword-fish and skate, is of recent introduction. Several kinds of fresh-water fish are rejected in some parts of the country which are considered good eating in others.

The examination of the habits of birds has led intelligent persons to the conclusion, that it is doubtful, at least, whether a single one is found in Massachusetts which does not more good than harm to the farmer ; and has made it certain that many, now looked upon as enemies, are friends, of such importance, that without them the business of husbandry could not go on.

How many groundless fears will be removed from the minds of anxious parents by a knowledge of the fact that only a single venomous serpent is known to exist in Massachusetts, and that one confined to certain districts ; and that all newts, tortoises, and other reptiles are perfectly harmless.

The examination of the insects is held by all to be a matter of the greatest moment. There are multitudes whose habits are known so imperfectly, that we can do absolutely nothing towards their extermination, and which, were it not for the birds and reptiles, would

INTRODUCTION. xi

probably increase to such a degree as not only to render the labors of the cultivators wholly unavailing, but to cut down and destroy the native forests. It is surely good policy to secure the cooperation of men of science against enemies so formidable and so irresistible. The observations of Linnaeus saved the timber, in the dock-yards of Sweden, from ruin. It is not impossible that living or future observers may show us the means of protecting the locust from the borer and the apple tree from the canker worm.

The reports contained in the present volume were presented to Governor Everett, during the session of 1838-9, and ordered to be printed and distributed by the following Resolve of April 9th, 1839 :

" Resolved , That the governor is hereby authorized to procure the publication of fifteen hundred copies of the reports which he has received, or may hereafter receive, under the resolve of the twelfth of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, providing for a further geological, mineralogical, botanical and zoological survey of the Commonwealth ; and to draw his warrant, with the advice and consent of the council, upon the treasurer of the Commonwealth, for such sums as may be necessary for that purpose.

" Resolved, That the said copies, when published, be delivered to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to be distributed in the following manner : twelve copies to the governor ; six copies to the lieutenant governor ; one copy to each member of the council, senate, and house of representatives ; one copy each to the secretary, treasurer, and to each clerk and chaplain of the two houses ; one copy to the secretary and one to each member of the board of education ; twenty copies to the

XJi INTRODUCTION.

geological surveyor, and ten to each commissioner appointed under the resolve of April 12, 1837 ; five copies to be deposited in the library of the State ; one copy to each town in the Commonwealth ; two copies each to Harvard, Amherst, and Williams colleges ; one copy each to the theological seminaries of Andover and Newton ; one copy to each incorporated atheneum, lyceum and academy in the Commonwealth ; one copy to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; one copy to the Antiquarian Society at Worcester, and one to the Pilgrim Society at Plymouth ; one copy to the Massachusetts Historical Society, and to every other incorporated historical society in the Commonwealth ; one copy to the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester ; one copy to the Boston Society of Natural History ; one copy to the Essex County Natural History Society ; one copy each to the Massachusetts and Salem Charitable Mechanic Associations ; one copy to the library of the East India Marine Society, in Salem ; two copies to the library of the United States ; one copy to the executive of each state in the Union ; one hundred copies to be placed at the disposal of the governor, and the remainder to be subject to the further order of the Legislature. [April 9, 1839.] "

G. B. E,