Sojourn in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Excursions into the Surrounding Region
Bethlehem on the Lecha or Lehigh – Dr. Saynisch – His solicitude – Natural history specimens – Lecha islands – Lecha Mountain Nazareth Delaware Gap – Easton – Delaware Gap – Pocono Mountains – Tunkhannock and Tobyhanna Creek – Beaver and Bear Creek – Susquehanna Valley – Wilkes-Barre – Falls of Solomon Creek – Neskopeck Valley – Lausanne – Nesquehoning Valley – Mauch Chunk on the Lecha – Collieries – Lecha Valley – Mahoning Creek – Lehigh Valley – Mahoning Gap – Preparations for departure from Bethlehem – Nazareth – Allentown
August 14, 1832
My condition is better, although I have still not fully recovered. Early in the morning, the heat was already very great. At a quarter past nine o’clock, the thermometer by the open window registered 21°R (79.3°F, 26.3°C) in the shade.
Using Wilson’s Ornithology, I made a list today of the bird species we had bagged here until now. The following are known: Trochilus colubris; red-eyed flycatcher, Wilson; Muscicapa tyrannus; catbird; Sylvia marylandica Wilson; Corvus cristatus; Fringilla tristis; Icterus baltimore and another species not in that work; Turdus migratorius, mustelinus, rufus; Sitta carolinensis; Picus erythrocephalus, auratus, pubescens; Sylvia sialis; yellow-breasted chat; Fringilla cyanea; Muscicapa ruticilla, the male an especially beautiful bird not at all uncommon here; Ampelis americana (we found the nest in a fruit tree); Alauda magna; Certhia maculata, qualifies as a new genus; Sylvia pusilla, very similar to a small Brazilian bird; Icterus phoeniceus; Hirundo purpurea; Caprimulgus americanus; Columba carolinensis; Tringa?; and several others.
Today Dr. Saynisch made an attempt to prepare the porcelain paste, but the ingredients were not sufficiently pulverized; therefore, the attempt was not entirely successful. I had a large metal container, with many turtles, fusion sealed, or soldered. Mr. Wöhler, our landlord, had gone bird hunting and brought back several splendid male and female specimens of the striped troupial (Icterus strigilatus) ([Natural History] Diary), as well as several turtles. In the evening we also received a nice snake (Coluber saurita).