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
November 24, 1832
In the morning, clear, bright sky; beautiful, calm weather. At seven thirty, 1°R [34.3°F, 1.3°C]; at twelve noon, 3 4/5°R [40.6°F, 4.8°C]. In the afternoon in Mr. Maclure’s big orchard, I found a Falco borealis and several small birds, including several bluebirds and Fringilla hudsonia. I came to the place where the pig had devoured its piglets and found it again at the same spot; the young ones were all dead and had been devoured by the mother. At home in the evening I found two nice raccoons, a very large rust-bellied squirrel, and a nice wild goose, which Russel, the young hunter, had brought in. I paid a dollar (two and one-half florins) for all these animals. In the evening, discussion with Mr. Say about natural history until almost ten o’clock.