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 18, 1832
In the morning, an excursion up along the Monocacy to get Quercus chincapin and discolor heterophylla, two beautiful species of oak growing here. Along the brook we found large tracts of common cattails (Typha) and several beautiful plants. Old oaks (Quercus alba, coccinea, tinctoria); tall walnut trees (Juglans nigra and alba); as well as sassafras, beeches (Fagus sylvestris americana), and many other trees. In the dense brushwood along the bank, the white-and-black tree creeper (Certhia varia Wils.) and the Muscicapa ruticilla crept; on the willow thickets, the Icterus phoeniceus, which we could not reach because of the swamp. A family of hummingbirds whirred around the Asclepias and other plants; we bagged one of them. Farther on, along the wooded bends of the brook, we found several small herons (Ardea virescens), one of which we found dead; it had recently been wounded and had perished here. In the tall, airy oak forest, we saw the Baltimore [oriole] (Icterus baltimore), bagged several more young specimens of Trochilus colubris, and then returned in the rain to our dwelling. When we arrived we found much to do, for neighboring farmers had supplied us with all kinds of animals, including a hare (Lepus americanus) and the so-called woodchuck, or groundhog (Arctomys monax Linn.). I was told that the nets placed in the Lecha last evening had caught 180 eels, and so many again this morning that in both hauls there were 300 altogether. There are said to be two varieties of eels here, a large one and a smaller one. Rain during the afternoon and evening.