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
December 27, 1832
Early in the morning, clear, bright sky; at seven thirty, −1/2°R [30.9°F, −0.6°C]. During the previous night we had a raw, powerful wind. After breakfast we traveled to the Fox River. On the bank we saw a flock of urubus sunning themselves in the early morning sunshine. One of them, at which a rifle shot was fired, sat there with fully outspread wings. The Fox River was still partially covered with thin ice, so there were not many ducks there. Mr. Bodmer winged a nice white-spotted duck, but unfortunately we did not get it. He also saw a large turtle, which surfaced to sun itself but immediately disappeared again. An urubu, an owl, black crows, titmice, woodpeckers, a little wren, and several other birds were the only forest dwellers we had a chance to see, except for a gray squirrel (Sciurus cinereus). Although the sun at noon did indeed shine warmly, there was nevertheless a raw wind on and along the river. At noon, the thermometer registered 3°R [38.8°F, 3.8°C] in the shade. Several times we shot at the Anas clangula, which is now common here and is called the butter duck. During the winter it comes down from the north to winter here. When I came home, I found three of these ducks, which were offered to me at a very high price but which I sent back. In the evening we worked at home.