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 28, 1832
Hoarfrost and some frost, bright sky. At seven thirty, exactly 0°R [32°F, 0°C]. Yesterday, despite his violent diarrhea, Dreidoppel had stuffed two raccoons. This caused severe headaches. After an enema of flaxseeds, he felt better that night. Our tame parakeet died suddenly yesterday evening; undoubtedly it had burned itself by the fire, because these birds have very sensitive beaks. At twelve noon, 10°R [54.5°F, 12.5°C]. Stroll in the afternoon with Mr. Say. It was so warm that in my present fatigued state I was weary to the utmost degree. The river had risen somewhat. We turned over pieces of wood and tree trunks lying on the ground and underneath them found black Gryllus and the local earthworm, which can be distinguished from the European one by its hind section, which is not flat but round instead. Mr. Say has described it under the name Lumbricus terrenus. We found bluebirds in the town gardens; their call could be heard in the warm weather. Mr. Bodmer went out to shoot some birds but returned with no game. In the evening Mr. Say visited us, and we had an interesting conversation about his journeys to the Rocky Mountains. He brought me the shells of Emys geographica or lesueurii. The weather was extraordinarily warm.