A history of the state of Vermont, from its discovery and settlement to the close of the year MDCCCXXX.

Front matter

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HISTORY

Preface

History. Impressed with such ideas of the advantages and happiness acquired from historical researches, the author of this work has attempted to give a general and correct History of Vermont. Under this title, however, a complete developement of all the proceedings which may have had an influence upon the formation of national character, or the establishment of the liberty and independence of our country, cannot be expected within our present limits. Much embarrassment has been experienced in designating such military or political matters of the general government, as have an immediate or remote injRnence upon the History of this particular State. The events which have succeeded, since the shores of Champlain were first viewed by civilized man in this and the other hemisphere, have presented the most brilliant epoch in th« annals of time. Every empire or government on the globe has shared in the sufferings or participated in Ihe benefits which the conquests of two centuries have produced. From the reign of William HI. to the recent peace with Great-Britain, the waters of this Lake have

been a common highway for contending nations. Hence 1*

PREFACK.

the territory lying within the present lin)its of this Stntr. wa8, anterior to any settlement in the same, a scene ot'wr.r and bloodshed. It becomes therefore necessary to erabrace so much of the iiccounl of the French and Indiafi wars as eventiiated in the limits of the State. My airr\ has been, in giving a narrative of the most important events in the History of Vermont, to place Hiot^c princi pies of civil and religious freedom for which our ancestors contended, in the most conspicuous light, and to record those multiplied instances of patience, bravery, and patriotism, which have honored their names; and to elfect by the tenor of a narrative, rather than by moral rcflectionp, impressions of patriotism and virtue upon the mind df the reader. There v, ill doubtless he many imperfectioiis in the ^urh, which ti:e author would very kindly receive corrected by an intelligent public.

THE AUTHOU.

Wrgcnnes^ FtLruanj 1, 1^31.

Chapter I

ISiiuation— Extent — Mountains — Rircrs — Lakes — Baj/.'^ ^Climata—ForeHt Trees— Esculent and Medicinal Plants — Quadrupeds— Birds, Fishes, Insects, Mineralogy and Geology.

The first and most |>erfect accounts we have of the discovery and settlement of countrie?, furnish but a partial representation of the real character of the times. The features of particuhir transactious are unknown by the colorings in the picture of recorded events. J3uring the period of the first settlement of Vermont, the events of the American revohition, and the extensive conquests in Europe by the arms of the French, gave a powerful^ impulse to the patrioism and enterprise of the people. Such causes have established a highly prosperous and respectable character for the State. The situation of Vermont on the terraqueous globe, is between 42 degrees M minutes and 45 degrees of North latitude and between 3 degrees 31 minutes and 5 degrees and 24 minutes east longi- Tude, from Washington. It is entirely an inland State, being separated at the shortest distance about eighty miles from any part of the ocean. This State is bounded on the south by Massacliusetts. This is part of the divisional line, being 40 miles in length, as established by a division of (Jeorge the II. between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and was surveyed by Richard Hazcn, in February, 1741. Conneticut river form.s the eastern boundary of V^ermont. This line by pursuing the course of the river, is about 215 miles in length and is derived from a decree of Geor'^e the III. by v* hich the western bank of the afore* said river was declared to be the boundary line between the Provinces of ?>^ew Hampshire and New York. The north line of the State runs on a parallel of 45 degrees north latitude, from Connecticut river to lake Champlain. This line, dividing a portion of the United States from Canada, is 90 miles long, and was surveyed in 1772 by I. Collins and I. Carden, but very erroneously aiUrwards Doct. Williams made some observations for determining it, and it was again surveyed by commissioners appointed by the United States and (xrcal Britain, under the treaty of Ghent. Tlie wej?tern botmdarx was eottlod

S HISTORY OF VERMONT.

m the Uninn ;n^ • ™°"''' "'"^ '"''^' mountainous State emove L j'" "T} "'' "'^•''^'"^ '° ^-^'^''^'ve as ' "i me spectatoi. I he Cireen Mounto ns extend fmm ^outh ,0 north through the whole length otUe State Keepmg about a middle direction from Connec icut Hv*; en the oast, and lake Champlain on the west. Th " nonr, ams eommence near the sea coast, and after running trough Connecticut, Massachusetts and ¥0™'"?! ractof notless than four hundred miles in en"h ler minate >n the Province of Canada. This ran"e Vs one continued chain or collection of mountains. Th^ir vidll ^^generaliy from ten to fifteen miles, and among hmt ficquency of vall.es, an abounding of springs and an u,^!

of°tt"st:;r;o"\^ r°'r '''■°" ""^ -utircm boLary

}LT ,u Washmglon county, the range continue^ •

Imt here he tnountains separate inio two ra.,ges, t" e easV ern .s called the height of land, which separales^he waters fall.ng from this part of the State and Connecticut rm from those wh.ch flow into the lakes Champlain any Al.mphremagog. The western range is interZned and broken through by the Onioa ..d L.Loille rner ; C««- els Rump or Hump, and Mansfield mountains, the loftiest eminences in the State, are in this range; the height of the former above tide water is 4188 feet, and that of the latter is 4279 feet. There are several other considerable eminences in the State, some of which do not belong to the chain above described. The tops of these mountams are generally composed of rocks and covered with moss and pine, spruce, hemlock, and other species of trees called evergreens, intermixed with bushes and wmter grass, which constitute the principal varieties of vegetable productions that nature brings forth on the tops of these mountains. Upon ascending the summits of these mountains, the powers of creation regularly degenerate^ and the trees in their dimensions are only shrubs of two or three feet high, whose branches are so thickly interwoven as to prevent passing between them. A view from the summit of one of them has been described in the following manner : on the east side of the mountain— every where all around, you have rocks frowning upon rocks a/j imperial elevation, and dark depths such as nature alone can excavate— you can see through the mists, v.'hich almost perpetually surround them, hugh masses so high, so rugged in their outlines and yet so heaped and wedged together that it is difficult to distinguish the large and bold cliffs and ravines among which their foundations have been pitched. At such a place as this there is no want of enthusiasm •, the whole surrounding country appeared like the delineations upon a map— mountains, hills, vallies, rivers and lakes completed the enchantment of the Bcene— here the works of man seemed like a speck in the solitude of the ocean, the loftiest edifice was lost in the blueness of space, and villages, iiumbly catching the shadows of the mountain, looked like the dwellings of pigmies^ perched upon the. bulwarks of creation. The situation of Vermont is such, that all the rivers and smaller streams have their origin within the limits of the Stata. Eleven of the largest of them have an easterly course, and full into the Connecticut river. About ten flow westerly and discharge their waters into Lake Champlain. Two running in the same direction fall into the Hudson river, and three have a northerly direction, falling into Lake Memphremagog and pass otf by the River ^t. Francois, through the

Province of Lower Canada. The largest of those on the West side of the mountain, are Missisque river, which rises in Kellyvale, and pursues a northeasterly course until it crosses the line of the State into Canada, and then turning re-enters the State near the south east corner of Richford, and falls into Missisque Bay at Highgate. This river is navigable as far as Swanton Falls, and is seventy five miles in length, including all its windings. The river Lamoille originates in Greensborough,and after running a westerly course of 75 miles discharges itself into Lake Champlain at the north west corner of Colchester. This is a fine smooth stream, end upon its banks border pleasant and fertile tracts of interval. It was discovered by Champlain in 1609. Onion river proceeds from a pond in Cabot, flowing in a northwesterly direction about 70 miles J it then falls into Lake Champlain between Colchester and Burlington, five miles from Burlington village, north. Its principal tributaries are Kingsbury and North Branch, Mad, Waterbury and Huntington rivers, and Muddy Brook. The several channels which have been Vr'orn in the rocks by this river, arc a great curiosity. — One of these, at Middlesex, is about 80 rods long, sixty feet wide, and thirty feet deep. Another at Waterbury, is ^^till more grand and sublime, being 65 feet in depth ; a third channel is between Colchester and Burlington, of tlie same depth of that at ATaterbury. Otter Creek is the longest, and one of the most useful streams in Vermont, It heads in Mount Tabor, runs northwesterly 90 miles, falling into Lake Champlain at Ferrisburgh.

From Pittsford to Middlebury, a distance of twenty-five miles, it is navigable for boats, and from Vcrgennes to its mouth, a distance of eight miles, the Creek is navigable for the largest vessels on the lake. The rivers that run northerly into Lake Memphremagog, and those whicli tmite with the Connecticut river, on the east side ol the mountain-,are much smaller than those on the west. Among liieni. White river is the most considerable stream. This ri\er rises in Kingston, and flows in a southern direction jibout fifty miles, until it unites with Connecticut river, at Hartford. West, and Pasoomsuck rivers are near the eize of White river. The Connecticut, so highly celebrated as the Nile of New-England, has its source among th© mountains of Lower Canada,and coming within the jurisdiction of New-Hampshire, forms for some distance the boundary between New-Hampshire and Canada, and for the whole length of the states the boundary between New- Hampshire and Vermont, it runs through Massachusetts and Connecticut, which with the former part of its course amounts to four hundred miles, and empties into the ocean at Seabrook. The breadth of this river when it first enters the state, is 150 feet, in the course of sixty miles increases to 390, and its meridian width through Massachusetts and Connecticut may be calculated at 725 feet. — With respect to its length, utility and beauty, this is one of the first rivers in the eastern States. In the opening of the year, it overflows its banks, and for 300 miles increases and fertilizes an extensive tract of fine interval.

This river is navigable for vessels requiring 10 feet of water 36 miles, to Middletown — for sloops 50 miles, to Hartford; and for boats two hundred and fifty miles, to I>arnet : except the falls, which are now made, and making navigable by means of locks and other improvements. Lake Champlain, into which the rivers from one half of Vermont flow, and from them are discharged to the north west, by the St. Lawrence into the Atlantic Ocean, was the first large body of fresh water, discovered in the interior of North America. This lake lies between the States of Vermont and New- York, but more than one half of it comes within the limits of this State. It extends from Whitehall to Alburgh,a distance of 105 miles, and thence 24 miles to St. Johns, in Lower Canada; it varies in width from 1 to 15 miles; but its medium is almost 4 1-2 miles ; an area of 970 square miles. The principal rivers that flow into it from Vermont, are Poultney river at Wiiitehall ; Great and Little Otter Creeks and Lewis Creek at Ferrisburgh ; Onion and Mis^ aisque rivers at Colchester, and Lamoille river at Swanton. A large number of rivers and streams fall into it from New-York and Canada; considerably exceeding those of this State. The waters, therefore, which form Lake Champlain, seem to be collected from a country of greater extent than the whole State of Vermont. The river Sorel!, after a course of 60 miles, conveys the water of the Lake to the St. Lawrence, about 45 miles below Montreal. The shcyes of this Lake, are indented with numerous bays, among whicli are East Bay at Whitehall, Button Bay in Ferrisburgh, Selburn, Burlington and Colchester Bays, in the same towns : also Beianiaqueens at St.

Albans, Mc- Q,uams Bay at Swanton, and Missisque at Highgate. — Some of the principal Islands scattered through the Lake, are South and North Hero and Vineyard. No Lake in the United States tor the importance of the events, in the colonial and national wars of our country, is so highly interesting and justly celebrated, as Champlain. In the early settlement of North America, the rude craft of the savr ago was wafted on its surtace, in his excursions for plunr der, and in the war between England and France, and the more recent struggle betwixt the United States and Great Britain, its waters have been critnsoned with the blood of those w^ho suffered, or perished in their successive encounters. The name of Lake Champlain, in the eventful peri^ ods of history, stands in connection with some of the most remarkable events in the annals of our country. At Ticonderoga, 20 miles north of Whitehall, was a fort, of the same name: and it was here the British army under the command oi General Abercrombie, were repulsed in their attempt to take the fort from the French, with the loss of 1941 men ; and on the succeeding year it was surrendered to General Amherst. This fort was taken from the English by Col. Allen in lv75, and retained until 1777 ; when it was evacuated upon the invasion of General Burgoyne } Crown Point fortress at Moriah, 14 miles north of Ticonderoga, was built by the French, in 1731, surrendered to Gen. Amherst in 1759, and held in the possession of the British until the capture of Burgoyne.

Fortifications were erected during our last encounters with Great Britain, at Plattsburgh, where the American fleet, under Commodore McDonough, gained a signal victory over theBritisH squads ron, on the 11th of September 1814, and at Burlington, which is now in disuse. The northern line of this State passes across Lake Memphremagog, dividing it into two parts, so that about 8 miles comes within the jurisdiction of the States, and 32 miles in the Province of Canada. — This Lake discharges its waters by the river St. Francois into Lake St. Peters, about 15 miles below the mouth of the river Sorcll. It is surrounded with a rich soil, and /iqe lercl country. In addition to ^his description of our rivers, and lakes, something may be added respecting the alluvial deposits, vegetable and organic remains, which abound in many places. The interval lands, which border upon the numerous streams in the State, incontestably demonstrate that nature ha.s, by slow and silent operations, performed great and wonderful revolutions. From thirty to fifty feet in depth the soil has been changed by attrition. Remains of ditferent substances have very often been removed, which have lain imbedded for centuries at a great depth in the earth. These alluvial deposits have a claim to antiquity far anterior to any knowledge the Europeans possessed of the American continent. Such changes have undoubtedly been eftected by the high lands, rocks and earthy substances,being worn down and removed by the force of the streams precipitating from the hills and mountains.

Thus in the low grounds, vegetable and other loose substances have accumulated to a great depth. The alluvial lands are the best in the State, being of a very strong and durable quality, and suffering but little from rains or drouth. There are many indications that lake Champlain was once much more extensive than it now is, and covered with its waters a considerable proportion of the land, which is now greatly elevated above its surface. Shells and clams are found in the highest parts of the islands in the lake, imbedded in the marl, or incorporated with the stones ; and on the continent they are scattered at heights of forty or fifty feet above the level of the lake. The soil also, in many places, exhibits the appearance of being deposited in regular strata on the subsiding of the water. These layers or strata are exlensive'y composed of substances varying in size and quality. Some are large pebbles, and others fine fiilicious sand, which has been cleansed of all earthy particles by the attrition of overflowing waters. The obstructions to the outlet of the lake were probably somewhere near St. Johns,and it appears it was not reduced to its present level at one time, but at three or four distant and distinct periods. The strongest indications of this, are, a succession of banksvone above another, which have every appearance of being for a long period washed and beaten by the waves. Probably the outlet of the lake was opened on a scale the most stupendous and sublime. The extremes of high and low water are about eight feet. The waters of Vermont, particularly on the east side ofthe mountain, are soft, and tree from foreign substances. On the west side, many are impregnated with iron, carbonate of lime, and epsom salt. Several springs in the State possess the quality of chalybeate water, or a strong infusion of sulphur. Those at Alburgh, Clarendon, Tunbridgc, Newbury, and some others, have been considerably resorted to by invalids.

ClimaiCf Temperature of the Weather, Snow, Wind, and Rain, Vermont, lying within the same parallels of latitude with Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Tartary and China, would, if corresponding situations could produce similar climates, be a very warm and temperate region. Tlie cold and sudden changes of weather so frequent here, would be succeeded by a temperature as felicitous to health, and productive in animal and vegetable varieties as the fertile fields of France, or the exuberant vallies of Italy. The manufacturer might acquire a profit from an adventure in the fabrication of silks, and the farmer gather a reward for his labors in the cultivation ofthe grape and the olive. And Vermont, an inland and the only entirely mountainous State in tlie Union, would, like the elevated regions of Spain, be covered with a crown of perennial verdure,or as the champaign parts of Turkey, be abundant in her harvest of rice. On comparing the American climates with those of the same latitude in Europe, a difference of 12 degrees should be allowed for the peculiarities of the American Continent. The cause of this difference is such n predominance of cold as subjects the American, in north latitude 45, to an equal degree of cold with the European, residing in north latitude 57. The climate of Vermont is on a medium between that of the warm and frigid latitudes. It resembles the former in the degree of its summer heat, and the latter in its sudden changes. The extremes of heat and cold are 100 degrees above, and 27 below zero ; and the mean annual tem perature, according to the observations that have been made, is about 44 degrees.

December, January and February are the coldest woxilhs ; June, July and August, the hotest ; May, the wetest, and September the pleasantost. November is uniformly the most dreary season in the year. The sky is generally enveloped with clouds, and a freezing and thawing state of weather ensues. From observations made by Doctor Saunders, at Burlington, it appears that the mean temperature of the climate for five years was on a medium 43 degrees and one third. From 1701, observations of the weather, the result appears to stand thus : 1025 fair days, 676 cloudy, 2S9 rainy, 117 snowy, 19 foggy, 45 thunder, aurora borealis, hail and hazy none. As the season advances, the coldness of the air increases rapidly, and winter usually commences the first of December, and continues until April. The ground is generally frozen during this period, and sometimes covered with snow. The seasons, however, are milder and more variable than they were on the first settlement of the State, and the atmosphere is often rendered dark and obscure by smoke arising from the spontaneous decay of vegetation. The frost usually ceases in May, and comes on again in September. The winds in this State are of a variable kind, and their courses follow the direction of the different ranges of the mountains. Sometimes they continue to blow from one point for several days, but usually change courses once or twice in twenty-four hours. In 1G82, observations made at Burlington by the gentleman above mentioned, the wind blew from the north 739 times, from the south 826, from the east 19, from the west 43, from the north east 11, from the south east 1, from the north west IS, and from the south west 25.

The eastern part of Vermont is more exposed to the nerth east winds than the vicinity of lake Champlain, and they are there more experienced. The cause of the wind being so variable in this Slate is occasioned by the heat and cold expanding and condensing the atmosphere. Whenever the agitation of the air ceases, and a calm ensues, the electric fluid imparts heat, and rarifies the surrounding atmosphere, this becalmed strata becomes lighler than the circumambient fluid, and consequently ascends when the cold air rushes in from opposite directions. Thus at a distance of twenty or thirty miles, the wind may blow from the north and south in opposite directions. Violent and destructive winds rarely occur. Storms of tnander and lightning are com' mon here in the summer months, and usually proceed from the west and south west. The q.uantity ot^ rain which falls in North America, has been lound to bs double of that which falls in the same latitudes in Europe. The average depth of water which falls annually in the United States i% about forty-eight inches,and in Vermont about forty-t\\ q inches. Although many parts of the Union sufler severely i'rom drouth, yet it is not often the case in Vermont. The soil is naturally moist, the mountaii\s are producti\c of rain, and the heat of the sun is not so intense as suddenly to disperse the vapors, dry up the waters or parch the lands. The summ.er of 1S16 was the coldest ever known in Vermont. In 1826, no rain fell at Vergenncs, and s6 through the greatest part of the State, from tlic ^th of July until about the 28th of September. The ground was completely parched, and vegetation entirely dried up. — Springs and wells generally failed of affording water.

Forest Trees, Esculent and Mtdicin al Plants. The natural history of a country is so intimately connected with the civil, that an omission of it would render the^ latter less certain and useful. Without a knowledge of this branch of history, the condition of that period when the earth was covered with woods, and the hills and vallie3 shaded with a variety of plants, flowers and trees, as ancient as the powers of nature, would be forgotten and unknown. The memorials of that period, when nature's bounty furnished protection and sustenance to Ihe animals of the forest, are but a sad lesson of extirpation and decay ! The first settlers of the United States were furnished with a living and employment by mear^s of agriculture, which had a great inliuence in the formation of their habits and character. An understanding of this i>art of history, becomes, therefore, necessary in deliniating our national customs and pursuits. In an inland State like this, where agriculture is the principal business, the original growth of the soil is mutilated and destroyed with a progiess as rapid as the increase of its inhabitants. The forests, which had for centuries heen maturing, wore regarded as an incumbrance, rather than catimated for their value. Thus by gradual improvements, and cultivation of the lands, Vermont has been stripped of her native grandeur. The white pine, the greatest ornament of this, and probably of any forest on the American Continent, is principally destroyed. It was often found six feet in diameter, and two hundred and 6fty feet in height, with a beautiful foliage, perfectly suited to the 8tem which it adorns.

The oak, so highly valuable for strength and durability of its timber, remains but in small quantities, and those mostly in such situations as discovery has not reached, or neglect has preserved. The sugar maple affording a luxury from its saccharine juices, and great convenience in its timber and fuel, has been so diminished by the progress of cultivation, that groves of this majestic and valuable tree, once overspreading a large proportion of this State, are now found only on unfeasible, or mountainous lands. A similar destruction has been made of many other valuable species of trees; and some of which are entirely extirpated. The different situations and qualities of land peculiar to the growth of different kinds of forest trees, range in tiiis order. The intervals along the large rivers were formerly timbered with oak, butternut, elm and walnut.. The plain lands were generally covered with pine. On the medium land, the timber was usually beach, birch and maple, often intermixed with spruce, hemlock, elm, ash, bass, butternut, cherry and hornbeam.. In some parts of the State are swamps which afford a plentiful supply of cedar. The sides and tops of the mountains are covered with evergreens, mostly hemlock, spruce and fir.. Respecting the small trees, or shrubs, vines and vegetables, which grov/ wild and without cultivation, the following are some of the esculent vegetables : red, yellow and thorn plumbs ; black, red and choke cherries; hazlenut, black currant, wild goseberry,. whortleberry, barberry,, mulberry, black grape, fox grape, black raspberry, red raspberry, upright blackberry, cranberry, strawberry, artichoke, groundnut, long red potatoe, wild onion, wild hop,, the latter of these are only valuable for their roots and seeds. Those possessing medicinal qualities are considerable numerous, but not very powerful.. The whole number of indiginoue

}>i{ints, together with the most common exotics in th3 State, amount to something more than six hundred and fifty. The ginseng >vas discovered in this part of the country about 1750. It grows tg great perfection in tlie north part of this &tate, and has been a considerable article for exportation. The Indian turnip is a valuable and harmless medicine when dried, but taken green, is a most violent poison, producing spasmodic attections, and sometimes immediate death. The balsam obtained from the bark of the lir tree, which abounds in our mountains, possesses healing virtues highly valuable as a medicine.— The extract obtained from the bark of the butternut, is a very good cathartic. To these are added some others, which operate as poisons. The thorn apple, henbane, nightshade, ivy, cre^^ping ivy, swampsumac and baneberry. There is also the bayberry, distinguished for its beautiful green wax, and fine perfume. The prickly ash, for its uncommon aromatic properties. The witch hazle, which blossoms after its leaves have been destroyed by the frost. And the sumac, celebrated for its medicinal qualities, and for dyeing. The great variety, extent and number of our plants and trees, together with their rapid increase and duration, denotes a power and energy which nature has never exceeded in the same climate, in any other quarter of the globe.

Quadrupeds.

Upon settling a new country, or state, the advantages derived to society lYom such settlements are valuable, as^ they extend the boundaries of civilization, and increase the subsistence and numbers of ma4ikind, but they are detrimental to the existence of v.ild animals, and consequently they are almost exterminated from the soil. The wilderness, untouched by the efforts of industry, and untrod by the footsteps of man, is their only secure and peaceful dominion. A destruction of many species, and a diminution of those that remain, on settling this ^tate, are among the most important events in the progressive stages of natural history. The deer no longer ranges over the rough and craggy tops of our mountains, or browses upon the green verdure of our vallies. The moose has been obstructed in his pathway, and his loftj mien 13 no longer seen in the covert of our forests. The hoarse and tarrific bowlings of the wolf have ceased, and that most ingenious, harmless and industrious animal, the beaver, has been extirpated, the fraternity of his united and social intercourse prostrated, by the success of our improvements. But these are not the only animals which have shared the hard fate of extermination. The rivers and streams which water this State, were formerly stored with fish in abundance, the bubbling brooks were darkened with crowds of speckled trout, and the deliqate salmon resorted in great numbers to our rivers; but the places jf their resort and protection are swept away by the changing channels of the streams, so that the size and number of the former are too diminutive for notice, and the latter have entirely deserted our waters.

The soil of Vermont, ia an uncultivated state, was rich and fertile, and the powers of vegetation extremely vigorous : it was overspread with an unbroken forest, and a great variety and number of animals, which lived on its surface. The productions of animal life, appeared in the various forms of quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishos and insects, which in their increase and growth, were numerous and rapid. Of the native quadruped in Vermont, thirty-six different. kinds may be numbered, some of the most common and largest, are the moose, bear, wolf, deer, fox, raccoon, porcupine, skunk, woodchuck, cat, martin, rabbit, weasel, squirrel, mole, mouse, together with the amphibious animals, the beaver, otter, muskrat and mink; all of these animals, except the beaver and otter, still continue. The birds which are common to the inland parts and lakes of northern climates, are found in this State ; and those most distinguished for the variety of their notes, and the melody of their sounds, termed singing birds, are the robin, thrush, thrasher, boblincoln, yellow and blue bird, wren, black bird, sky lark, catbird, goldfinch, hanging bird, and spring bird. The birds of passage are those which appear in the middle of April, and depart in the middle of September : the house, barn and ground swallows, the black martin, wild pigeon, wild goose, and snow bird ; the la«tof which appears the 20th of November, and departs the 1st of April. Of those birds which generally resort to ponda, rivers and lakes, called waterfowls, are the heron, goose, teal, gull, crane, loon, stork, water hen, and duck. There are many kinds of these. The birds which winter in our climate, are the partridge. Crow, forkecl tailed hawk, owl, snow bird, and wood pecker. There are other kinds of birds, not belonging to those above mentioned, such as two species of eagles, three of hawks, two of crows, and seven of wood-peckers, kingbird, cwckoo, whippoorwill, humming bird, and many others ; some of which have never been enumerated and described. Thebat,a mammillary biped, is very common, and forms the connecting link between the beast and bird.