Four-and-a-Half Months’ Stay in New Harmony
Description of the region – Natural history – Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Owen – Hunting excursions in Indiana and Illinois – Wabash, Fox River – Illinois prairies – Albion – Black River – Mr. Bodmer’s trip to New Orleans
January 12, 1833
In the morning, beautiful, clear weather. At seven thirty, temperature of −7 1/2°R [15.1°F, −9.4°C]. Dreidoppel went out early to Fox Island to hunt. Noon was pleasant because of the bright sunshine. I stayed at home and described the falcon bagged yesterday, and additional duties also kept me occupied. At noon, −2 1/3°R [26.8°F, −2.9°C]. A walk that afternoon with Mr. Say to flush the prairie hens. We did not find any of them, like a hunter who met us. He was also looking for them and had shot one yesterday. In the tall forest along the Wabash, I shot a Fringilla pennsylvanica, which I had not yet obtained. A pretty finch, which is wintering here. When I came home, I found a female lynx that had been shot in the woods along the Wabash 15 miles from Harmony. It was not nearly as large as the one recently obtained, and its length measured 21 inches, 1 line; it was of the same species (Felis canadensis). I spent the evening at the home of Mr. Say.