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 15, 1832
At eight o’clock we went to the large island in the Lecha and looked for plants, amphibians, and birds. Some interesting plants. Several toads (Bufo clamosa Sch.), and several birds, including a black-and-white tree creeper (Certhia varia Wils.), a nuthatch with a black crown (Sitta carolinensis), and a flycatcher with reddish brown eyes (red-eyed flycatcher, Wilson). As we rowed home, we saw a turtle on the bottom of the river between Serpicula and Vallisneria plants, which the water carried downstream, a turtle that we could not catch. When we arrived home, several more turtles had been brought in. I had much to do to preserve my plants, especially some nice varieties of Quercus, and to describe birds and amphibians. At eleven thirty, temperature of 23°R [83.8°F, 28.8°C]. In the afternoon we went fishing in the Monocacy but caught nothing except several small Cyprinus and several crabs. The people with the net were too old and too slow; otherwise we would have caught many turtles. In the evening a violent thunderstorm came from the west. There was severe thunder and lightning, and the rain, too, was sometimes very heavy. At ten o’clock the thunderstorm had passed; the night, however, remained very warm.