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
February 10, 1833
In the morning, slightly overcast sky with streaky clouds; dreary, hazy horizon. At seven thirty, 10°R [54.5°F, 12.5°C]. We cannot tolerate any fire in the room. Today is Sunday. Some persons are better dressed than usual. Some young people are already playing ball. Today I reviewed the lists of the various species of turtles discovered up to now in the United States and found that I lack only five or six of them. The following species are found here: 1. Testudo polyphemus, 2. Cistudo clausa, 3. Emys picta, 4. E. punctata, 5. E. mühlenbergii (biguttata Say), 6. E. geographica?, 7. E. lesueurii, 8. E. scabra, 9. E. centrata, 10. E. pileata, 11. E. reticulata, 12. E. serrata, 13. E. pensylvanica, 14. E. odorata, 15. E. serpentina, 16. Trionyx ferox?, 17. T. ocellatus.
Perhaps still another species, according to Lesueur. Two of those I cited (nos. 7 and 10) are perhaps only varieties. I lack nos. 1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13; the remainder I already have.
At noon, 14 1/3°R [64.3°F, 17.9°C], with somewhat hazy spring weather. We had worked at home all morning. In the afternoon the little Frenchman brought in a Fringilla erythrophthalma, which is very abundant here during summer. Dreidoppel had still seen it here on the 9th of December. I took a walk with Mr. Lesueur, during which we heard several birdcalls in the very warm weather. In such cases the bluebird (Sylvia sialis) makes itself heard immediately. The air was oppressively warm but hazy, as it is during a genuine Indian summer. Rain is predicted.
We saw several persons out walking. They were neatly and better dressed than usual because it is Sunday. At five o’clock this evening, still 14°R [63.5°F, 17.5°C]. One already notices that the days are growing longer. At nightfall, sheet lightning. At nine thirty, as I was going home from Mr. Say’s place, rain. We had discussed the old Indian remains in America, about which Mr. Say shared many interesting bits of information. This evening between seven and nine thirty there was thunder and lightning.