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Godman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rambles of a Naturalist + +Author: John D. Godman + +Release Date: June 2, 2011 [EBook #36304] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Anna Hall and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h2>RAMBLES</h2> +<h5>OF</h5> +<h1>A NATURALIST.</h1> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>WITH A</h5> +<h3>MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR,</h3> +<h2><span class="smcap">Dr.</span> JOHN D. GODMAN.</h2> + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> +<p> </p> +<h3>PHILADELPHIA:</h3> + +<h5>PUBLISHED BY THE</h5> +<h4>ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS FOR THE DIFFUSION OF RELIGIOUS<br /> +AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE,</h4> +<h4><span class="smcap">109 North Tenth Street.</span></h4> +<h4>1859.</h4> + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> + +<div class="poem"> +<p>The account of the life and character of <span class="smcap">Dr. +John D. Godman</span> has been prepared from the +several brief memoirs and eulogies published shortly +after his decease, and from the tract issued by "The +Tract Association of Friends," entitled "A Sketch +of the Life and Character of Dr. John D. Godman."</p> + +<p>"The Rambles of a Naturalist" have been republished +from "The Friend," a weekly paper, for the +columns of which the essays were originally contributed.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>MEMOIR<br /> +<span class="fsmall">OF<br /></span> +<big>DR. JOHN D. GODMAN.</big></h2> + + +<p>Dr. John D. Godman, the author of the pleasing +descriptions which, under their simple title, "Rambles +of a Naturalist," contain so much of the beautiful +and true, was born at Annapolis, in Maryland, +in the year 1798. At a very early age he was deprived, +by their death, of both his parents. He +was then placed under the care of an aunt, whose +intellectual attainments and elevated piety, united +to much sweetness of disposition, eminently qualified +her for the direction of the youthful mind. His +fondness for books and aptitude for learning were +remarkable; while his frank, sensitive, and sweet +temper gained the affection of all around him. It +is said that he had such a reverence for truth, even +from infancy, that he was never known to equivocate. +When he attained the age of six years, his excellent +aunt died. The patrimony which should have provided +for his wants, was lost through the mismanagement +of those to whom the care of it had been entrusted; +and thus, without resources, and without +suitable protection, he was left exposed to adversity +and temptation. It appears, however, that the moral +and religious impressions which had already been +made upon his mind, though obscured for a time, +were never obliterated. In his last illness he bore +this testimony to the affectionate religious care of +his pious aunt. "If," said he, "I have ever been +led to do any good, it has been through the influence +of her example, instruction, and prayers."</p> + +<p>Little is known of the next ten years of his life. +He appears to have had some opportunities for attending +school; but to his own native energy and +uncommon intellectual endowments, self cultured +under many obstacles and discouragements, is his +future superiority of mental attainment to be chiefly +attributed. An interesting incident of his character, +after he had attained his fifteenth year, has been furnished +by a physician who was, in 1810, a senior +student in the office of Dr. Thomas E. Bond, of Baltimore. +"The office," says he, "was fitted up with +taste, and boys, attracted by its appearance, would +frequently drop in to gaze on the labelled jars and +drawers. Among them I discovered one evening an +interesting lad, who was amusing himself with the +manner in which his comrades pronounced the 'hard +words' with which the furniture was labelled. He +appeared to be quite an adept in the Latin language. +A strong curiosity soon prompted me to inquire, +'What is your name, my little boy?' He was small +of his age. 'My name is John D. Godman.' 'Did +you study the Latin language with Mr. Creery?' +'No, he does not teach any but an English school.' +'Do you intend to prosecute your studies alone?' +'I do; and I will, if I live, make myself a Latin, +Greek, and French scholar.'"</p> + +<p>In 1812 he was bound an apprentice to a printer +of a newspaper, in Baltimore, but soon became much +dissatisfied with the occupation, which, he said, in a +letter to a friend, "cramped his genius over a font +of types, where there are words without ideas." He +had been placed in this situation against his own +wish, being anxious to enter a more intellectual +pursuit, and had selected that of medicine; but his +guardian was opposed to it.</p> + +<p>His early views of the Christian religion are thus +expressed in a letter to a friend, in the early part of +1814: "I have not ever had a fixed determination +to read the works of that modern serpent (Thomas +Paine), nor had I determined not to do it; and it +seems to me surprising that a fellow-student of yours +should recommend the perusal of such writings.</p> + +<p>"There is a great comfort in the belief of that +glorious doctrine of salvation that teaches us to look +to the Great Salvator for happiness in a future life; +and it has always been my earnest desire, and I must +endeavour to die the death of the righteous, that my +last end and future state may be like His. It would +be a poor hope indeed, it would be a sandy foundation +for a dying soul, to have no hope but such as +might be derived from the works of Bolingbroke and +Paine; and how rich the consolation and satisfaction +afforded by the glorious tidings of the blessed Scriptures! +It is my opinion there has never one of these +modern deists died as their writings would lead us to +believe; nor are but few of their writings read at +the present day."</p> + +<p>About this time he appears to have left the +printing-office, and became a sailor on board the +flotilla stationed in Chesapeake bay, under Com. +Barney. It was while in this situation that an incident +occurred to which he has himself attributed +much of the buoyancy and energy of his character. +A raw sailor, who had been sent aloft by the captain, +and was busy in performing some duty which required +him to stoop, was observed to falter and grow dizzy. +"<i>Look aloft</i>" cried the captain; and the fainting +landsman, as he instinctively obeyed the order, recovered +his strength and steadiness. The young philosopher +read a moral in this trifling incident which +he never forgot, and which frequently animated and +aroused him in the most adverse circumstances. It +is not treating the subject with undue levity to add, +that in the last and closing scene of his life, when +the earth was receding from his view, and his failing +strength admonished him of his peril, the watchword +was still ringing in his ear. At that awful period he +"looked aloft" to "worlds beyond the skies," and +therein derived strength and hope, which supported +him in his passage through the narrow valley.</p> + +<p>At the close of the war, young Godman received +an invitation from Dr. L., the physician already mentioned, +to come to his house in Elizabethtown, Pa., +where he would have the opportunity of studying +medicine. This offer was accepted with joy; and he +resolved, by the most indefatigable study and diligence, +to deserve the kindness of his friend. "In +six weeks," says the doctor, "he had acquired more +knowledge in the different departments of medical +science, than most students do in a year. During +this short period he not only read Chaptal, Fourcroy, +Chesselden, Murray, Brown, Cullen, Rush, Sydenham, +Sharp, and Cooper, but wrote annotations on each, +including critical remarks on the incongruities in +their reasonings. He remained with me five months, +and at the end of that time you would have imagined +from his conversation that he was an Edinburgh +graduate." When he sat down to study, he was so +completely absorbed by his subject, that scarcely +any event would withdraw his attention.</p> + +<p>Returning to Baltimore, he commenced the attendance +of the medical lectures in that city, and +pursued his studies under the direction of an eminent +medical preceptor. In this situation he, through +many affecting difficulties, finished his education as a +physician. At one time his feelings are thus described +in a letter: "I have been cast among +strangers. I have been deprived of property by +fraud that was mine by right. I have eaten the +bread of misery. I have drunk of the cup of sorrow. +I have passed the flower of my days in a state +little better than slavery, and have arrived at what? +Manhood, poverty, and desolation. Heavenly Parent, +teach me patience and resignation to Thy will!"</p> + +<p>Professor Sewall, in his eulogy on Dr. Godman, +remarks, in relation to this period of his life: "He +pursued his studies with such diligence and zeal as +to furnish, even at that early period, strong intimations +of his future eminence. So indefatigable was +he in the acquisition of knowledge, that he left no +opportunity of advancement unimproved; and, notwithstanding +the deficiencies of his preparatory education, +he pressed forward with an energy and perseverance +that enabled him not only to rival, but to +surpass all his fellows."</p> + +<p>While attending his last course of lectures in the +University of Maryland, Professor Davidge, who was +his preceptor, was disabled by the fracture of a limb +from completing the course. He selected his gifted +pupil to supply his place. "This situation he filled +for several weeks with so much propriety; he lectured +with such enthusiasm and eloquence; his illustrations +were so clear and happy, as to gain universal applause. +At the time he was examined for his degree, the +superiority of his mind, as well as the extent and +accuracy of his knowledge, were so apparent, that +he was marked by the professors of the university as +one who was destined at some future period to confer +high honour upon the profession."</p> + +<p>Dr. Godman graduated in the Second month, 1818, +and soon after settled in Maryland, as a practitioner, +in a county bordering on the Chesapeake, the spot +described with so much truthful beauty in some of +the numbers of his "Rambles of a Naturalist." +Here he devoted all the intervals of leisure from a +laborious practice to the study of natural history, +in which, from his ardent love of the subject, and +his minute, persevering investigation of it, he became +so distinguished.</p> + +<p>His intellectual powers had fitted him for a wider +sphere than that of a village doctor. His nature +urged him to enter on a field more worthy of his +gifts. He returned to Baltimore, with the hope of +being engaged in the university as a professor, but +found that arrangements different from what he anticipated +had been made. Here he married, and not +long after received an appointment to fill the chair +of surgery in the medical college of Ohio, located at +Cincinnati. He was recommended by one of the +professors of the school in which he had been educated, +in this emphatic language: "In my opinion, +Dr. Godman would do honour to any school in +America."</p> + +<p>The Ohio school not succeeding, Dr. Godman resided +in Cincinnati for one year only; but in that +short period inscribed himself deeply on the public +mind. The memory of his works remains. In the +midst of his varied scientific labours, he found time +to cultivate his social relations, and every day added +a new friend to the catalogue of those who loved +him for his simplicity and frankness, not less than +they admired him for his genius, vivacity, and diligence.</p> + +<p>He returned to Philadelphia, and soon after began +to lecture on anatomy and physiology, his first and +greatest objects. His residence in this city continued +for several years, during which time he wrote many +valuable papers on scientific subjects, and published +his celebrated work, "The Natural History of American +Quadrupeds," which has attained deserved +popularity.</p> + +<p>The fame of Dr. Godman as a teacher of anatomy +was now widely spread, and he was solicited to accept +the professorship of that branch in the Rutgers Medical +College at New York. His practice soon became +extensive, and the affairs of the college prosperous, +when, in the midst of his second course of lectures, +a severe cold settled on his lungs, accompanied by a +copious hemorrhage, and compelled him to abandon +his pursuits, and flee for his life to a milder region. +He sailed for the West Indies, and passed the remainder +of the winter and spring in the island of +Santa Cruz. Returning after this to Philadelphia, +he took a house in Germantown, and by the labours +of his pen, continued to support his family. His +consumptive disease continued, though for a time so +far mitigated, that his friends flattered themselves +his life was yet to be spared to science and his +country. At this time he says of himself: "At +present, that I am comparatively well, my literary +occupations form my chief pleasure; and all the +regret I experience is, that my strength is so inadequate +to my wishes. Should my health remain as it +is now, I shall do very well; and I cannot but hope, +since we have recently passed through a severe spell +of cold weather without my receiving any injury. +All my prospects as a public teacher of anatomy are +utterly destroyed, as I can never hope, nor would I +venture if I could, again to resume my labours. My +success promised to be very great, but it has pleased +God I should move in a different direction."</p> + +<p>His disease advanced with steady pace, and, though +there were many fluctuations, his strength continued to +decline. The gradual progress of his disorder allowed +him many intervals of comparative ease. In these +he returned to his literary labours with his usual +ardour, and wrote and translated for the press until +within a few weeks of his death. Perfectly aware +of the fatal character of his disorder, he watched its +progress step by step with the coolness of an anatomist, +while he submitted to it with the resignation +of a Christian. The "Rambles of a Naturalist" +were among the last productions of his pen, and +were written in the intervals of acute pain and +extreme debility. These essays are not inferior in +poetical beauty, and vivid and accurate description, +to the celebrated letters of Gilbert White on the +natural history of Selbourne. He came to the study +of natural history as an investigator of facts, and not +as a pupil of the schools; his great aim being to +learn the instincts, the structure, and the habits of +all animated beings. This science was a favourite +pursuit, and he devoted himself to it with indefatigable +zeal. He has been heard to say that, in investigating +the habits of the shrew mole, he walked +many hundred miles. His powers of observation were +quick, patient, keen, and discriminating: it was these +qualities that made him so admirable a naturalist.</p> + +<p>His fame, however, rested chiefly, during his life, +upon his success as a teacher of anatomy, and in this +capacity he raised himself at once to the top of his +profession. He was so intent on making his students +understand him, and he was so fully master of the +subject himself, that his clear and animated flow of +eloquence never failed to rivet their attention; and +he became, wherever he taught, the idol of his +pupils. His lectures on anatomy were real analytical +experiments. The subject was placed before the +class; tissue and muscle and blood, vessel and bone, +were laid bare in their turn, their use and position +exemplified to the eye, and enforced by the most +lively and precise description; while the student was +at the same time receiving the most valuable lessons +in practical dissection.</p> + +<p>Dr. Godman had a remarkable capacity for concentrating +all his powers upon any given object of +pursuit. What he had once read or observed he +rarely, if ever, forgot. Hence it was that, although +his early education was much neglected, he became +an excellent linguist, and made himself master of +Latin, French, and German, besides acquiring a +knowledge of Greek, Italian, and Spanish. He +had read the best works in these languages, and +wrote with facility the Latin and French. His character +and acquirements are justly portrayed by a +distinguished journalist, in the extracts which follow. +"The tributes," said he, "which have been +paid in the newspapers to the late Dr. Godman, were +especially due to the memory of a man so variously +gifted by nature, and so nobly distinguished by industry +and zeal in the acquisition and advancement +of science. He did not enjoy early opportunities of +self-improvement, but he cultivated his talents, as he +approached manhood, with a degree of ardour and +success which supplied all deficiencies; and he finally +became one of the most accomplished general scholars +and linguists, acute and erudite naturalists, ready, +pleasing, and instructive lecturers and writers, of his +country and era. The principal subject of his study +was anatomy in its main branches, in which he excelled +in every respect. His attention was much +directed also to physiology, pathology, and natural +history, with an aptitude and efficiency abundantly +proved by the merits of his published works, which +we need not enumerate.</p> + +<p>We do not now recollect to have known any individual +who inspired us with more respect for his +intellect and heart, than Dr. Godman; to whom +knowledge and discovery appeared more abstractly +precious; whose eye shed more of the lustre of +generous and enlightened enthusiasm; whose heart +remained more vivid and sympathetic amidst professional +labour and responsibility, always extremely +severe and urgent. Considering the decline of his +health for a long period, and the pressure of adverse +circumstances, which he too frequently experienced, +he performed prodigies as a student, an author, and +a teacher; he prosecuted extensive and diversified +researches; composed superior disquisitions and reviews, +and large and valuable volumes; and in the +great number of topics which he handled simultaneously, +or in immediate succession, he touched none +without doing himself credit, and producing some +new development of light, or happy forms of expression. +He lingered for years under consumption of +the lungs; understood fully the incurableness of his +melancholy state; spoke and acted with an unfeigned +and beautiful resignation; toiled at his desk to the +last day of his thirty-two years, still glowing with +the love of science and the domestic affections."</p> + +<p>Upon all this bright attainment and brighter promise +for the future the grave has closed. Divine +Providence saw fit to arrest him in the midst of his +unfinished labours. We have now to view him in +another and far more important relation—that which +man, as an immortal being, bears to his Almighty +Creator.</p> + +<p>Dr. Godman's generous and enthusiastic devotion +to science and learning commands our admiration; +and perhaps no more ennobling pursuits can occupy +the mind of him who looks not beyond the present +state of existence; but when these are brought into +contrast with the solemn and momentous concerns +of eternity, they sink into utter insignificance. How +then was the subject of this memoir influenced by +<i>religious</i> considerations?</p> + +<p>Unhappily, the philosophical and religious opinions +of Dr. Godman were formed originally in the school +of the French naturalists of the last century. Many +of the most distinguished of these men were avowed +atheists, and a still greater number rejected absolutely +the Christian revelation. Such is fallen human +nature! Surrounded by the most magnificent displays +of Almighty Wisdom—placed on a scene +where all things speak of God, and invite us to +worship and obey Him—a purblind philosophy may +devote herself to the study of His works, yet pass +by the testimony they furnish of His existence and +attributes, and see nothing in all this wonderful +creation more noble than the mere relations of +colour and form. It was so with Dr. Godman; for, +while assisted by such lights as these, and guided +alone in his investigations by perverted reason, he +became, as he tells us, <i>an established infidel</i>, rejecting +revelation, and casting all the evidences of an +existing Deity beneath his feet. In the merciful +providence of a long-suffering God, the light of +truth at length beamed upon his darkened understanding. +In the winter of 1827, while engaged in +his course of lectures in New York, an incident occurred +which led him to a candid perusal of the +New Testament. It was a visit to the death-bed of +a Christian—the death-bed of a student of medicine. +There he saw what reason could not explain +nor philosophy fathom. He opened his Bible, and +the secret was unfolded. He was in all things a +seeker of the truth, and could not satisfy himself +with any superficial examination.</p> + +<p>He applied himself assiduously to the study of +the New Testament; and that this sincere and +thorough examination of the inspired volume was +made the means of his full conversion, will best +appear from his own eloquent pen. The following +is an extract of a letter he addressed to a medical +friend, Dr. Judson, a surgeon in the navy of the +United States, who was at that time in the last +stage of consumption:</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="right"> +"<i>Germantown, December 25th, 1828.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>In relation to dying, my dear friend, you talk like +a sick man, and just as I used to do, when very despondent. +Death is a debt we all owe to nature, and +must eventually ensue from a mere wearing out of +the machine, if not from disease. Nature certainly +has a strong abhorrence to this cessation of corporeal +action, and all animals have a dread of death +who are conscious of its approach. A part of our +dread of death is purely physical, and is avoidable +only by a philosophical conviction of its necessity; +but the greater part of our dread, and the terrors +with which the avenues to the grave are surrounded, +are from another and a more potent source. ''Tis +conscience that makes cowards of us all,' and forces +us by our terrors to confess, that we dread something +beyond physical dissolution, and that we are terrified +not at merely ceasing to breathe, but that we have +not lived as we ought to have done, have not effected +the good that was within the compass of our abilities, +and neglected to exercise the talents we possessed, +to the greatest advantage. The only remedy +for this fear of death is to be sought by approaching +the Author of all things in the way prescribed by +himself, and not according to our own foolish imaginations. +Humiliation of pride, denial of self, subjection +of evil tempers and dispositions, and an +entire submission to His will for support and direction, +are the best preparatives for such an approach. +A perusal of the gospels, in a spirit of real inquiry +after a direction how to act, will certainly teach the +way. In these gospels the Saviour himself has +preached His own doctrines, and he who runs may +read. He has prescribed the course; He shows how +the approval and mercy of God may be won; He +shows how awfully corrupt is man's nature, and how +deadly his pride and stubbornness of heart, which +cause him to try every subterfuge to avoid the humiliating +confession of his own weakness, ignorance, +and folly. But the same blessed Hand has stripped +death of all the terrors which brooded around the +grave, and converted the gloomy receptacle of our +mortal remains into the portal of life and light. Oh! +let me die the death of the righteous; let my last +end and future state be like his!</p> + +<p>This is all I know on the subject. I am no theologian, +and have as great an aversion to priestcraft +as one can entertain. I was once an infidel, as I +told you in the West Indies. I became a Christian +from conviction produced by the candid inquiry recommended +to you. I know of no other way in +which death can be stripped of its terrors; certainly +none better can be wished. Philosophy is a fool, +and pride a madman. Many persons die with what +is called <i>manly firmness</i>; that is, having acted a +part all their lives, according to their prideful creed, +they must die <i>game</i>. They put on as smooth a face +as they can, to impose on the spectators, and die +<i>firmly</i>. But this is all deception: the true state +of their minds at the very time, nine times out of +ten, is worse than the most horrible imaginings even +of hell itself. Some who have led lives adapted to +sear their conscience and petrify all the moral sensibilities, +die with a kind of indifference similar to +that with which a hardened convict submits to a new +infliction of disgraceful punishment. But the man +who dies as a man ought to die, is the humble-minded, +believing Christian; one who has tasted +and enjoyed all the blessings of creation; who has +had an enlightened view of the wisdom and glory +of his Creator; who has felt the vanity of merely +worldly pursuits and motives, and been permitted to +know the mercies of a blessed Redeemer, as he approaches +the narrow house appointed for all the +living. Physical death may cause his senses to +shrink and fail at the trial; but his mind, sustained +by the Rock of Ages, is serene and unwavering. +He relies not on his own righteousness, for that +would be vain; but the arms of mercy are beneath +him, the ministering spirits of the Omnipotent are +around him. He does not die manfully, but he +rests in Jesus; he blesses his friends, he casts his +hope on One all-powerful to sustain and mighty to +save, then sleeps in peace. He is dead, but liveth; +for He who is the resurrection and the life has declared, +'Whoso believeth on me, though he were +dead, yet shall he live.' 'And whosoever liveth and +believeth in me, shall never die.'" ...</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>This letter, which so truly contrasts the death-bed +scene of the infidel with that of the Christian, so +beautifully portrays the history of the change which +had been effected in Dr. Godman's own sentiments +and affections, and so clearly points the benighted +wanderer to the true source of life and light, was +not lost upon his friend to whom it was addressed. +It described his condition, and it reached his heart.</p> + +<p>Dr. Judson, though religiously instructed when +young, having a pious clergyman for his father, and +another for his elder brother, had nevertheless long +since freed himself from what he called the prejudices +of education, the shackles of priestcraft, and +was ranging the fields of infidelity. He had acquired +wealth and reputation, and was an estimable man in +all the domestic relations of life; but the self-denying +doctrines of the Saviour were too humbling to +his proud spirit, and he could not submit to their +influence. At the time he received Dr. Godman's +letter, however, he was gloomy and despondent, +looking forward with fearful forebodings to the +period of his dissolution, which seemed not far distant. +He had no confidence but that of the sceptic—no +hope but that of ceasing to be. Aware of +the fatal nature of the disease under which he had +lingered for years, he had long been arming himself +to meet the king of terrors with composure, that he +might die like a philosopher, "<i>with manly firmness</i>;" +but as he drew nearer to the grave, the clouds and +darkness thickened around him, and he began to +fear that there might be something beyond this +narrow prison. His infidelity now began to give +way, and he inquired with solicitude: "Is there +such a thing as the new birth, and if so, in what +does it consist?" He at length consented to make +the investigation recommended by Dr. Godman. He +took up the New Testament, and read it in the spirit +of candid inquiry. A conviction of the truth of its +doctrines fastened upon him. The clouds which had +so long enveloped him were dissipated, light broke +in upon his mind, and he was enabled to lay hold +of the promises. The remaining days of his life +were devoted to fervent prayer and the constant +study of the Scriptures. Through the holy influences +of Divine grace, he was enabled to rely with +undoubting confidence on the infinite merits of his +Redeemer, his soul was filled with heavenly composure, +and the last words he uttered were, "Peace, +peace." If he did not die with "<i>manly firmness</i>," +he "<i>rested in Jesus</i>."</p> + +<p>Dr. Godman's views of the authenticity and practical +tendency of the gospel, are expressed with singular +force and beauty in the following extract from +an essay written not long before his death:</p> + +<p>"Is proof wanting that these gospels are true? +It is only necessary for an honest mind to read them +candidly, to be convinced. Every occurrence is +stated clearly, simply, and unostentatiously. The +narrations are not supported by asseverations of +their truth, nor by parade of witnesses: the circumstances +described took place in presence of vast +multitudes, and are told in that downright, unpretending +manner which would have called forth +innumerable positive contradictions had they been +untrue. Mysteries are stated without attempt at +explanation, because <i>explanation</i> is not necessary to +establish the <i>existence</i> of facts, however mysterious. +Miracles, also, attested by the presence of vast numbers, +are stated in the plainest language of narration, +in which the slightest working of imagination +cannot be traced. This very simplicity, this unaffected +sincerity, and quiet affirmation, have more +force than a thousand witnesses—more efficacy than +volumes of ambitious effort to support truth by dint +of argumentation.</p> + +<p>What motive could the evangelists have to falsify? +The Christian kingdom is not <i>of this world</i>, nor <i>in it</i>. +Christianity teaches disregard of its vanities, depreciates +its honours and enjoyments, and sternly declares +that none can be Christians but those who +escape from its vices and allurements. There is no +call directed to ambition, no gratification proposed to +vanity: the sacrifice of self, the denial of all the +propensities which relate to the gratification of passion +or pride, with the most humble dependence +upon God, are invariably taught and most solemnly +enjoined, under penalty of the most awful consequences. +Is it, then, wonderful that such a system +should find revilers? Is it surprising that sceptics +should abound, when the slightest allowance of +belief would force them to condemn all their actions? +Or is it to be wondered at that a purity of life and +conversation so repugnant to human passion, and a +humility so offensive to human pride, should be opposed, +rejected, and contemned? Such is the true +secret of the opposition to <i>religion</i>—such the cause +inducing men who lead unchristian lives, to array +the frailties, errors, weaknesses, and vices of individuals +or sects, against <i>Christianity</i>, hoping to weaken +or destroy the system by rendering ridiculous or +contemptible those who <i>profess</i> to be governed by +its influence, though their conduct shows them to be +acting under an opposite spirit.</p> + +<p>What is the mode in which this most extraordinary +doctrine of Christianity is to be diffused? By +force, temporal power, temporal rewards, earthly +triumphs? None of these. By earnest persuasion, +gentle entreaty, brotherly monition, paternal remonstrance. +The dread resort of threatened punishment +comes last; exhibited in sorrow, not in anger; +told as a fearful truth, not denounced with vindictive +exultation; while to the last moment the beamy +shield of mercy is ready to be interposed for the +saving of the endangered.</p> + +<p>Human doctrines are wavering and mutable; the +doctrines of the blessed and adorable Jesus, our +Saviour, are fixed and immutable. The traditions +of men are dissimilar and inconsistent; the declarations +of the gospel are harmonious, not only with +each other, but with the acknowledged attributes of +the Deity, and the well-known condition of human +nature.</p> + +<p>What do sceptics propose to give us in exchange +for this system of Christianity, with its 'hidden +mysteries,' 'miracles,' 'signs and wonders?' Doubt, +confusion, obscurity, annihilation! Life, without +higher motive than selfishness; death, without hope! +Is it for this that their zeal is so warmly displayed +in proselyting? Is such the gain to accrue for the +relinquishment of our souls? In very deed, this is +the utmost they have to propose; and we can only +account for their rancorous efforts to render others +like themselves, by reflecting that misery loves +company."</p> + +<p>His intellect was strong and undimmed to the +last, and almost the only change that could be observed +in his mind was that which belongs to a being +on the verge, of eternity, in whose estimate the concerns +of this life are sinking in comparison with the +greater interests of that to which he is approaching. +His principal delight was in the promises and consolations +of the Bible, which was his constant companion. +On one occasion, a few days before his death, +while reading aloud from the New Testament to his +family, his voice faltered, and he was desired to read +no longer, as it appeared to oppress him. "It is not +that," replied he; "but I feel so in the immediate +presence of my Maker, that I cannot control my +emotion!" In a manuscript volume which he sent +to a friend, and which he intended to fill with +original pieces of his own composition, he wrote as +follows: "Did I not in all things feel most thoroughly +convinced that the overruling of our plans +by an all-wise Providence is always for good, I might +regret that a part of my plan cannot be executed. +This was to relate a few curious incidents from +among the events of my most singularly guided life, +which, in addition to mere novelty or peculiarity of +character, could not have failed practically to illustrate +the importance of inculcating correct religious +and moral principles, and imbuing the mind therewith +from the very earliest dawn of intellect, from +the very moment that the utter imbecility of infancy +begins to disappear. May His holy will be done, +who can raise up abler advocates to support the +truth." "This is my first attempt to write in my +Token; why may it not be the last? Oh! should +it be, believe me, that the will of God will be most +acceptable. Notwithstanding the life of neglect, +sinfulness, and perversion of heart which I so long +led, before it pleased Him to dash all my idols in +the dust, I feel a humble hope in the boundless +mercy of our blessed Lord and Saviour, who alone +can save the soul from merited condemnation. May +it be in the power of those who chance to read these +lines, to say, Into thy hands I commit my spirit, for +Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord! thou God of Truth!"</p> + +<p>A reliance on the mercies of God through Jesus +Christ became indeed the habitual frame of his mind, +and imparted to the closing scenes of his life a solemnity +and a calmness, a sweet serenity and a holy +resignation, which robbed death of its sting and the +grave of its victory. The following extracts from +some of his letters afford additional evidence of the +great and glorious change which he had been permitted +to experience.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="right"> +"<i>Philadelphia, Feb. 17th, 1829.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,—Since my last to you my +health has suffered various and most afflicting +changes."—"But thanks to the mercies of Him +who is alone able to save, the valley and shadow of +death were stripped of their terrors, and the descent +to the grave was smoothed before me. Relying on +the mercies and infinite merits of the Saviour, had +it pleased God to call me then, I believe I should +have died in a peaceful, humble confidence. But I +have been restored to a state of comparative health, +perhaps nearly to the condition in which I was when +I wrote to Dr. Judson; and I am again allowed to +think of the education of my children and the support +of my family."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>In reply to a letter from Professor Sewall, giving +an account of the last moments of his friend Dr. +Judson, he responds in the following feeling manner:</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="right"> +"<i>Germantown, May 21st, 1829.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,—I feel very grateful for your +attention in sending me an account of our dear Judson's +last moments. After all his doubts, difficulties, +and mental conflicts, to know that the Father of +mercies was pleased to open his eyes to the truth, +and shed abroad in his heart the love and, salvation +offered through the Redeemer, is to me a source of +the purest gratification, and a cause of the most sincere +rejoicing. The bare possibility of my having +been even slightly instrumental in effecting the +blessed change of mind he experienced, excites in +me emotions of gratitude to the Source of all good +which words cannot express."—"My health has +been in a very poor condition since my last to you. +The warm weather now appears to have set in, and +possibly I may improve a little, otherwise it will not +be long before I follow our lately departed friend. +Let me participate in the prayers you offer for the +sick and afflicted, and may God grant me strength +to die to His honour and glory, in the hopes and +constancy derived from the merits and atonement +of the blessed Saviour."</p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="right"> +"<i>Philadelphia, Oct. 6th, 1829.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,—My health is, as for a considerable +time past, in a very tolerable condition; that +is, I can sit up a great part of the day, writing or +reading, without much injury. My emaciation is +great, and, though not very rapid, is steady, so that +the change in my strength takes place almost imperceptibly. +On the whole, though I suffer greatly, +compared with persons in health, yet so gently have +the chastenings of the Lord fallen upon me, that I +am hourly called upon for thankfulness and gratitude +for His unfailing mercies. Equal cause have I +had for rejoicing, that I have learned to put my +whole trust in Him, as He has raised me up help +and friends in circumstances which seemed to render +even hope impossible, and has blessed me and mine +with peace and content in the midst of all afflictions, +trials, and adversity."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>In his last letter to Dr. Best, of Cincinnati, with +whom he had long maintained an affectionate correspondence, +he writes:</p> + +<p>"It gives me great happiness to learn that you have +been taught, as well as myself, to fly to the Rock of +Ages for shelter against the afflictions of this life, +and for hopes of eternal salvation. But for the hopes +afforded me by an humble reliance on the all-sufficient +atonement of our blessed Redeemer, I should +have been the most wretched of men. But I trust +that the afflictions I have endured have been sanctified +to my awakening, and to the regeneration of my +heart and life. May we, my dear friend, persist to +cling to the only sure support against all that is evil +in life and all that is fearful in death!"</p> + +<p>Dr. Best's circumstances were in several respects +similar to those of his friend Godman: like him, he +had been a disbeliever in the Christian religion, and +like him had been brought by a careful examination +of its evidences to a perception and an acknowledgment +of the truth. He too was at this time languishing +in consumption, which brought him to the grave +a few months after Dr. Godman; and like him he +was supported and animated by the precious faith of +the gospel, and yielded up his spirit in hope and +peace.</p> + +<p>Professor Sewall,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote A"> [A] </a> from whose account much of +this memoir has been derived, remarks: "In the +last letter which I ever received from him, he observes: +'I have just concluded the publication of +the translation of Levasseur's account of Lafayette's +progress through the United States, which will appear +next week. My health has for the last week or two +been very good, for me, since, notwithstanding my +rather excessive application during this time, I continue +to do well. My cough and expectoration are +sufficiently troublesome; but by light diet, and +avoiding all irritation, I have but very little trouble +from night sweats, and generally sleep tolerably well. +To-morrow I must resume my pen to complete some +articles of zoology for the Encyclopedia Americana, +now preparing in Boston. It shall be my constant +endeavour to husband my strength to the last; and, +by doing as much as is consistent with safety for the +good of my fellow-creatures, endeavour to discharge +a mite of the immense debt I owe for the never-failing +bounties of Providence.'"</p> + +<p>He did husband his strength, and he toiled with +his pen almost to the last hours of his life; and by +thus doing has furnished us with a singular evidence +of the possibility of uniting the highest attainments +in science, and the most ardent devotion to letters, +with the firmest belief and the purest practice of the +Christian. But the period of his dissolution was not +distant: the summons arrived; and conscious that +the messenger, who had been long in waiting, could +not be bribed to tarry, he commended his little family +in a fervent prayer to Him who has promised to be +the 'Father of the fatherless, and the widow's God,' +and then, with uplifted eyes and hands, and a face +beaming with joy and confidence, resigned his spirit +into the arms of his Redeemer, on the morning of +the 17th of Fourth month, 1830.</p> + +<p>A friend who was his constant companion during +his sickness, and witnessed his last moments, writes +thus:</p> + +<p>"You ask me to give you an account of his last +moments: they were such as have robbed me of all +terror of death, and will afford me lasting comfort +through life. The same self-composure and entire +resignation which were so remarkable through his +whole sickness, supported him to the end. Oh! it +was not death; it was a release from mortal misery +to everlasting happiness. Such calmness, when he +prayed for us all—such a heavenly composure, even +till the breath left him, you would have thought he +was going only a short journey. During the day, +his sufferings had been almost beyond enduring. +Frequently did he pray that the Lord would give +him patience to endure all till the end, knowing +that it could not be many hours; and truly his +prayers were heard. '<i>Lord Jesus, receive my soul</i>,' +were the last words he uttered, and his countenance +appeared as if he had a foretaste of heaven even +before his spirit left this world."</p> + +<p>The fine imagination and deep enthusiasm of Dr. +Godman occasionally burst forth in impassioned poetry. +He wrote verse and prose with almost equal +facility, and had he lived and enjoyed leisure to +prune the exuberance of his style, and to bestow +the last polish upon his labours, he would have +ranked as one of the great masters of our language, +both in regard to the curious felicity and the +strength and clearness of his diction. The following +specimens of his poetical compositions are selected +less for their intrinsic excellence, than for the +picture which they furnish of his private meditations.</p> + + +<h4>A MIDNIGHT MEDITATION.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Tis midnight's solemn hour! now wide unfurled<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Darkness expands her mantle o'er the world;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fire-fly's lamp has ceased its fitful gleam;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The cricket's chirp is hushed; the boding scream<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the gray owl is stilled; the lofty trees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scarce wave their summits to the failing breeze;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All nature is at rest, or seems to sleep;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis thine alone, O man! to watch and weep!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thine 'tis to feel thy system's sad decay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As flares the taper of thy life away<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beneath the influence of fell disease:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thine 'tis to <i>know</i> the want of mental ease<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Springing from memory of time misspent,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of slighted blessings, deepest discontent<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And riotous rebellion 'gainst the laws<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of health, truth, heaven, to win the world's applause!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">—Such was thy course, Eugenio; such thy hardened heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till mercy spoke, and death unsheathed the dart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Twanged his unerring bow, and drove the steel<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Too deep to be withdrawn, too wide the wound to heal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet left of life a feebly glimmering ray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Slowly to sink and gently ebb away.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">—And yet, how blest am I!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While myriad others lie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In agony of fever or of pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With parching tongue and burning eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or fiercely throbbing brain;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My feeble frame, though spoiled of rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is not of comfort dispossest.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My mind awake, looks up to Thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Father of mercy! whose blest hand I see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In all things acting for our good,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Howe'er thy mercies be misunderstood.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">—See where the waning moon<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Slowly surmounts yon dark tree-tops,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her light increases steadily, and soon<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The solemn night her stole of darkness drops:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus to my sinking soul, in hours of gloom,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The cheering beams of hope resplendent come,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus the thick clouds which sin and sorrow rear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are changed to brightness, or swift disappear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hark! that shrill note proclaims approaching day;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The distant east is streaked with lines of gray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Faint warblings from the neighbouring groves arise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tuneful tribes salute the brightening skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Peace breathes around; dim visions o'er me creep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The weary night outwatched, thank God! I too may sleep.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LINES WRITTEN UNDER A FEELING OF THE +IMMEDIATE APPROACH OF DEATH.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The damps of death are on my brow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The chill is in my heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My blood has almost ceased to flow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My hopes of life depart;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The valley and the shadow before me open wide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But thou, O Lord! even there wilt be my guardian and my guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For what is pain, if Thou art nigh its bitterness to quell?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And where death's boasted victory, his last triumphant spell?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O Saviour! in that hour when mortal strength is nought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When nature's agony comes on, and every anguished thought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Springs in the breaking heart a source of darkest woe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be nigh unto my soul, nor permit the floods o'erflow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Thee, to Thee alone! dare I raise my dying eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou didst for all atone, by Thy wondrous sacrifice;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh! in Thy mercy's richness, extend Thy smiles on me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let my soul outspeak Thy praise, throughout eternity!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Beneath the above stanzas, in the manuscript +alluded to, is the following note: "Rather more +than a year has elapsed since the above was first +written. Death is now certainly nearer at hand; +but my sentiments remain unchanged, except that +my reliance on the Saviour is stronger."</p> + +<p>It was a melancholy sight to witness the premature +extinction of such a spirit; yet the dying couch +on which genius, and virtue, and learning thus lay +prostrated, beamed with more hallowed lustre, and +taught a more salutary lesson, than could have been +imparted by the proudest triumphs of intellect. The +memory of Dr. Godman, his blighted promise and +his unfinished labours, will long continue to call forth +the vain regrets of men of science and learning. +There are those who treasure, up in their hearts, as a +more precious recollection, his humble faith and his +triumphant death, and who can meet with an eye +of pity the scornful glance of the scoffer and the +infidel, at being told that if Dr. Godman was a philosopher, +he was also a Christian.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<p class="fbig center">RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h1>RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST.</h1> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_I" id="No_I"></a>No. I.</h2> + + +<p>From early youth devoted to the study of nature, +it has always been my habit to embrace every opportunity +of increasing my knowledge and pleasures by +actual observation, and have ever found ample means +of gratifying this disposition, wherever my place has +been allotted by Providence. When an inhabitant +of the country, it was sufficient to go a few steps +from the door, to be in the midst of numerous interesting +objects; when a resident of the crowded +city, a healthful walk of half an hour placed me +where my favourite enjoyment was offered in abundance; +and now, when no longer able to seek in +fields and woods and running streams for that knowledge +which cannot readily be elsewhere obtained, +the recollection of my former rambles is productive +of a satisfaction which past pleasures but seldom +bestow. Perhaps a statement of the manner in +which my studies were pursued, may prove interesting +to those who love the works of nature, and may +not be aware how great a field for original observation +is within their reach, or how vast a variety of +instructive objects are easily accessible, even to the +occupants of a bustling metropolis. To me it will +be a source of great delight to spread these resources +before the reader, and enable him so cheaply to +participate in the pleasures I have enjoyed, as well +as place him in the way of enlarging the general +stock of knowledge, by communicating the results +of his original observations.</p> + +<p>One of my favourite walks was through Turner's +Lane, which is about a quarter of a mile long, and +not much wider than an ordinary street, being +closely fenced in on both sides; yet my reader +may feel surprised when informed that I found +ample employment for all my leisure, during six +weeks, within and about its precincts. On entering +the lane from the Ridge road, I observed a gentle +elevation of the turf beneath the lower rails of the +fence, which appeared to be uninterruptedly continuous; +and when I had cut through the verdant +roof with my knife, it proved to be a regularly +arched gallery or subterranean road, along which +the inhabitants could securely travel at all hours, +without fear of discovery. The sides and bottom +of this arched way were smooth and clean, as if +much used; and the raised superior portion had +long been firmly consolidated by the grass roots, +intermixed with tenacious clay. At irregular and +frequently distant intervals, a side path diverged +into the neighbouring fields, and, by its superficial +situation, irregularity, and frequent openings, showed +that its purpose was temporary, or had been only +opened for the sake of procuring food. Occasionally +I found a little gallery diverging from the main +route beneath the fence, towards the road, and finally +opening on the grass, as if the inmate had come out +in the morning to breathe the early air, or to drink +of the crystal dew which daily gemmed the close-cropped +verdure. How I longed to detect the animal +which tenanted these galleries, in the performance +of his labours! Farther on, upon the top of a high +bank, which prevented the pathway from continuing +near the fence, appeared another evidence of the +industry of my yet unknown miner. Half-a-dozen +hillocks of loose, almost pulverised earth were thrown +up, at irregular distances, communicating with the +main gallery by side passages. Opening one of these +carefully, it appeared to differ little from the common +gallery in size, but it was very difficult to ascertain +where the loose earth came from, nor have I +ever been able to tell, since I never witnessed the +formation of these hillocks, and conjectures are forbidden, +where nothing but observation is requisite +to the decision. My farther progress was now interrupted +by a delightful brook which sparkled +across the road, over a clear sandy bed; and here +my little galleries turned into the field, coursing +along at a moderate distance from the stream. I +crept through the fence into the meadow on the +west side, intending to discover, if possible, the +animal whose works had first fixed my attention, +but as I approached the bank of the rivulet, something +suddenly retreated towards the grass, seeming +to vanish almost unaccountably from sight. Very +carefully examining the point at which it disappeared, +I found the entrance of another gallery or +burrow, but of very different construction from that +first observed. This new one was formed in the +grass, near and among whose roots and lower stems +a small but regular covered way was practised. +Endless, however, would have been the attempt to +follow this, as it opened in various directions, and +ran irregularly into the field, and towards the brook, +by a great variety of passages. It evidently belonged +to an animal totally different from the owner +of the subterranean passage, as I subsequently discovered, +and may hereafter relate. Tired of my +unavailing pursuit, I now returned to the little +brook, and seating myself on a stone, remained for +some time unconsciously gazing on the fluid which +gushed along in unsullied brightness over its pebbly +bed. Opposite to my seat was an irregular hole in +the bed of the stream, into which, in an idle mood, +I pushed a small pebble with the end of my stick. +What was my surprise, in a few seconds afterwards, +to observe the water in this hole in motion, and the +pebble I had pushed into it gently approaching the +surface. Such was the fact: the hole was the dwelling +of a stout little crayfish, or fresh-water lobster, +who did not choose to be incommoded by the pebble, +though doubtless he attributed its sudden arrival to +the usual accidents of the stream, and not to my +thoughtless movements. He had thrust his broad +lobster-like claws under the stone, and then drawn +them near to his mouth, thus making a kind of +shelf; and, as he reached the edge of the hole, he +suddenly extended his claws, and rejected the incumbrance +from the lower side, or down stream. +Delighted to have found a living object with whose +habits I was unacquainted, I should have repeated +my experiment, but the crayfish presently returned +with what might be called an armful of rubbish, and +threw it over the side of his cell, and down the +stream, as before. Having watched him for some +time while thus engaged, my attention was caught +by the considerable number of similar holes along +the margin and in the bed of the stream. One of +these I explored with a small rod, and found it to +be eight or ten inches deep, and widened below into +a considerable chamber, in which the little lobster +found a comfortable abode. Like all of his tribe, +the crayfish makes considerable opposition to being +removed from his dwelling, and bit smartly at the +stick with his claws: as my present object was only +to gain acquaintance with his dwelling, he was +speedily permitted to return to it in peace. Under +the end of a stone lying in the bed of the stream, +something was floating in the pure current, which +at first seemed like the tail of a fish; and being +desirous to obtain a better view, I gently raised the +stone on its edge, and was rewarded by a very beautiful +sight. The object first observed was the tail +of a beautiful salamander, whose sides were of a +pale straw colour, flecked with circlets of the richest +crimson. Its long lizard-like body seemed to +be semi-transparent, and its slender limbs appeared +like mere productions of the skin. Not far distant, +and near where the upper end of the stone had been, +lay crouched, as if asleep, one of the most beautifully-coloured +frogs I had ever beheld. Its body +was slender compared with most frogs, and its skin +covered with stripes of bright reddish-brown and +grayish-green, in such a manner as to recall the +beautiful markings of the tiger's hide; and, since +the time alluded to, it has received the name of +<i>Tigrina</i> from Leconte, its first scientific describer. +How long I should have been content to gaze at +these beautiful animals, as they lay basking in the +living water, I know not, had not the intense heat +made me feel the necessity of seeking a shade. It +was now past twelve o'clock: I began to retrace my +steps towards the city; and, without any particular +object, moved along by the little galleries examined +in the morning. I had advanced but a short distance, +when I found the last place where I had +broken open the gallery was <i>repaired</i>. The earth +was perfectly fresh, and I had lost the chance of +discovering the miner, while watching my new acquaintances +in the stream. Hurrying onward, the +same circumstance uniformly presented; the injuries +were all efficiently repaired, and had evidently +been very recently completed. Here was one point +gained: it was ascertained that these galleries were +still inhabited, and I hoped soon to become acquainted +with the inmates. But at this time it +appeared fruitless to delay longer, and I returned +home, filled with anticipations of pleasure from the +success of my future researches. These I shall +relate on another occasion, if such narrations as +the present be thought of sufficient interest to justify +their presentation to the reader.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_II" id="No_II"></a>No. II.</h2> + + +<p>On the day following my first related excursion, I +started early in the morning, and was rewarded by +one sight, which could not otherwise have been +obtained, well worth the sacrifice of an hour or two +of sleep. There may be persons who will smile +contemptuously at the idea of a <i>man's</i> being delighted +with such trifles; nevertheless, we are not +inclined to envy such as disesteem the pure gratification +afforded by these simple and easily accessible +pleasures. As I crossed an open lot on my way to +the lane, a succession of gossamer spider-webs, lightly +suspended from various weeds and small shrubs, attracted +my attention. The dew which had formed +during the night was condensed upon this delicate +lace, in globules of most resplendent brilliance, whose +clear lustre pleased while it dazzled the sight. In +comparison with the immaculate purity of these dew-drops, +which reflected and refracted the morning +light in beautiful rays, as the gossamer webs trembled +in the breeze, how poor would appear the most invaluable +diamonds that were ever obtained from +Golconda or Brazil! How rich would any monarch +be that could boast the possession of <i>one</i> such, as +here glittered in thousands on every herb and spray! +They are exhaled in an hour or two, and lost; yet +they are almost daily offered to the delighted contemplation +of the real lover of nature, who is ever +happy to witness the beneficence of the great Creator, +not less displayed in trivial circumstances, than +in the most wonderful of His works.</p> + +<p>No particular change was discoverable in the +works of my little miners, except that all the places +which had been a second time broken down, were +again repaired, showing that the animal had passed +between the times of my visit; and it may not be +uninteresting to observe how the repair was effected. +It appeared, when the animal arrived at the spot +broken open or exposed to the air, that it changed +its direction sufficiently downwards to raise enough +of earth from the lower surface to fill up the opening; +this of course slightly altered the direction of +the gallery at this point, and though the earth +thrown up was quite pulverulent, it was so nicely +arched as to retain its place, and soon became consolidated. +Having broken open a gallery where the +turf was very close, and the soil tenacious, I was +pleased to find the direction of the chamber somewhat +changed: on digging farther with my clasp-knife, +I found a very beautiful cell excavated in very +tough clay, deeper than the common level of the gallery, +and towards one side. This little lodging-room +would probably have held a small melon, and was +nicely arched all round. It was perfectly clear, and +quite smooth, as if much used: to examine it fully, +I was obliged to open it completely. (The next +day, it was replaced by another, made a little farther +to one side, exactly of the same kind: it was +replaced a second time, but when broken up a third +time, it was left in ruins.) As twelve o'clock approached, +my solicitude to discover the little miner +increased to a considerable degree: previous observation +led me to believe that about that time his +presence was to be expected. I had trodden down +the gallery for some inches in a convenient place, +and stood close by, in vigilant expectation. My +wishes were speedily gratified: in a short time the +flattened gallery began at one end to be raised to its +former convexity, and the animal rapidly advanced. +With a beating heart, I thrust the knife-blade down +by the side of the rising earth, and quickly turned +it over to one side, throwing my prize fairly into the +sunshine. For an instant, he seemed motionless +from surprise, when I caught and imprisoned him +in my hat. It would be vain for me to attempt a +description of my pleasure in having thus succeeded, +small as was my conquest. I was delighted with the +beauty of my captive's fur; with the admirable +adaptation of his diggers, or broad rose-tinted hands; +the wonderful strength of his fore-limbs, and the +peculiar suitableness of his head and neck to the +kind of life the Author of nature had designed him +for. It was the shrew-mole, or <i>scalops canadensis</i>, +whose history and peculiarities of structure are +minutely related in the first volume of Godman's +American Natural History. All my researches +never enabled me to discover a nest, female, or +young one of this species. All I ever caught +were males, though this most probably was a mere +accident. The breeding of the scalops is nearly +all that is wanting to render our knowledge of it +complete.</p> + +<p>This little animal has eyes, though they are not +discoverable during its living condition, nor are +they of any use to it above ground. In running +round a room (until it had perfectly learned where +all the obstacles stood), it would uniformly strike +hard against them with its snout, and then turn. +It appeared to me as singular, that a creature which +fed upon living earth-worms with all the greediness +of a pig, would not destroy the larvæ or maggots of +the flesh-fly. A shrew-mole lived for many weeks +in my study, and made use of a gun-case, into +which he squeezed himself, as a burrow. Frequently +he would carry the meat he was fed with +into his retreat; and, as it was warm weather, the +flies deposited their eggs in the same place. An +offensive odour led me to discover this circumstance, +and I found a number of large larvæ, over which +the shrew-mole passed without paying them any +attention; nor would he, when hungry, accept of +such food, though nothing could exceed the eager +haste with which he seized and munched earth-worms. +Often, when engaged in observing him +thus employed, have I thought of the stories told +me, when a boy, of the manner in which snakes +were destroyed by swine: his voracity readily exciting +a recollection of one of these animals, and +the poor worms writhing and twining about his jaws +answering for the snakes. It would be tedious were +I to relate all my rambles undertaken with a view +to gain a proper acquaintance with this creature, at +all hours of the day, and late in the evening, before +day-light, etc. etc.</p> + +<p>Among other objects which served as an unfailing +source of amusement, when resting from the fatigue +of my walks, was the little inhabitant of the brook +which is spoken of in the extract made from the +"Journal of a Naturalist," in last week's Friend. +These merry swimmers occupied every little sunny +pool in the stream, apparently altogether engaged in +sport. A circumstance (not adverted to in that extract) +connected with these insects, gives them additional +interest to a close observer—they are allied +by their structure and nature to those nauseous vermin, +the cimices, or <i>bed-bugs</i>; all of which, whether +found infesting fruits or our dormitories, are distinguished +by their disgusting odour. But their distant +relatives, called by the boys the <i>water-witches</i> +and <i>apple-smellers</i>, the gyrinus natator above alluded +to, has a delightful smell, exactly similar to that of +the richest, mellowest apple. This peculiarly pleasant +smell frequently causes the idler many unavailing +efforts to secure some of these creatures, whose +activity in water renders their pursuit very difficult, +though by no means so much so as that of some of +the long-legged water-spiders, which walk the waters +dry-shod, and evade the grasp with surprising ease +and celerity. What purposes either of these races +serve in the great economy of nature, has not yet +been ascertained, and will scarcely be determined +until our store of <i>facts</i> is far more extensive than at +present. Other and still more remarkable inhabitants +of the brook, at the same time, came within +my notice, and afforded much gratification in the +observation of their habits. The description of +these we are obliged to defer for the present, as we +have already occupied as much space as can be +allowed to our humble sketches.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_III" id="No_III"></a>No. III.</h2> + + +<p>In moving along the borders of the stream, we +may observe, where the sand or mud is fine and settled, +a sort of mark or cutting, as if an edged instrument +had been drawn along, so as to leave behind +it a track or groove. At one end of this line, by +digging a little into the mud with the hand, you will +generally discover a shell of considerable size, which +is tenanted by a molluscous animal of singular construction. +On some occasions, when the mud is +washed off from the shell, you will be delighted to +observe the beautifully regular dark lines with which +its greenish smooth surface is marked. Other species +are found in the same situations, which, externally, +are rough and inelegant, but within are ornamented +to a most admirable degree, presenting a +smooth surface of the richest pink, crimson, or +purple, to which we have nothing of equal elegance +to compare it. If the mere shells of these creatures +be thus splendid, what shall we say of their internal +structure, which, when examined by the microscope, +offers a succession of wonders? The beautiful apparatus +for respiration, formed of a network regularly +arranged, of the most exquisitely delicate texture; +the foot, or organ by which the shell is moved forward +through the mud or water, composed of an +expanded spongy extremity, capable of assuming +various figures to suit particular purposes, and governed +by several strong muscles, that move it in +different directions; the ovaries, filled with myriads, +not of eggs, but of perfect shells, or complete little +animals, which, though not larger than the point of +a fine needle, yet, when examined by the microscope, +exhibit all the peculiarities of conformation +that belong to the parent; the mouth, embraced by +the nervous ganglion, which may be considered as +the animal's brain; the stomach, surrounded by the +various processes of the liver, and the strongly acting +but transparent heart, all excite admiration and +gratify our curiosity. The puzzling question often +presents itself to the inquirer: Why so much elaborateness +of construction and such exquisite ornament +as are common to most of these creatures, should be +bestowed? Destined to pass their lives in and under +the mud, possessed of no sense that we are acquainted +with, except that of touch, what purpose can ornament +serve in them? However much of vanity there +may be in asking the question, there is no answer to +be offered. We cannot suppose that the individuals +have any power of admiring each other, and we know +that the foot is the only part they protrude from their +shell, and that the inside of the shell is covered by +the membrane called the mantle. Similar remarks +may be made relative to conchology at large: the +most exquisitely beautiful forms, colours, and ornaments +are lavished upon genera and species which +exist only at immense depths in the ocean, or buried +in the mud; nor can any one form a satisfactory idea +of the object the great Author of nature had in view, +in thus profusely beautifying creatures occupying so +low a place in the scale of creation.</p> + +<p>European naturalists have hitherto fallen into the +strangest absurdities concerning the motion of the +bivalved shells, which five minutes' observation of +nature would have served them to correct. Thus, +they describe the upper part of the shell as the +<i>lower</i>, and the <i>hind</i> part as the front, and speak of +them as moving along on their rounded convex surface, +like a boat on its keel, instead of advancing +with the edges or open part of the shell towards the +earth. All these mistakes have been corrected, and +the true mode of progression indicated from actual +observation, by our fellow-citizen, Isaac Lea, whose +recently published communications to the American +Philosophical Society reflect the highest credit upon +their author, who is a naturalist in the best sense +of the term.</p> + +<p>As I wandered slowly along the borders of the +run, towards a little wood, my attention was caught +by a considerable collection of shells lying near an +old stump. Many of these appeared to have been +recently emptied of their contents, and others seemed +to have long remained exposed to the weather. On +most of them, at the thinnest part of the edge, a +peculiar kind of fracture was obvious, and this +seemed to be the work of an animal. A closer +examination of the locality showed the footsteps of +a quadruped, which I readily believed to be the +muskrat, more especially as, upon examining the +adjacent banks, numerous traces of burrows were +discoverable. It is not a little singular that this +animal, unlike all others of the larger gnawers, as +the beaver, etc. appears to increase instead of diminishing +with the increase of population. Whether +it is that the dams and other works thrown up by +men afford more favourable situations for their multiplication, +or their favourite food is found in greater +abundance, they certainly are quite as numerous now, +if not more so, than when the country was first discovered, +and are to be found at this time almost +within the limits of the city. By the construction +of their teeth, as well as all the parts of the body, +they are closely allied to the rat kind; though in +size, and some peculiarities of habit, they more +closely approximate the beaver. They resemble the +rat, especially, in not being exclusively herbivorous, +as is shown by their feeding on the uniones or muscles +above mentioned. To obtain this food requires +no small exertion of their strength; and they accomplish +it by introducing the claws of their fore-paws +between the two edges of the shell, and tearing +it open by main force. Whoever has tried to force +open one of these shells, containing a living animal, +may form an idea of the effort made by the muskrat: +the strength of a strong man would be requisite to +produce the same result in the same way.</p> + +<p>The burrows of muskrats are very extensive, and +consequently injurious to dykes and dams, meadow +banks, etc. The entrance is always under water, and +thence sloping upwards above the level of the water, +so that the muskrat has to dive in going in and out. +These creatures are excellent divers and swimmers, +and, being nocturnal, are rarely seen unless by those +who watch for them at night. Sometimes we alarm +one near the mouth of the den, and he darts away +across the water, near the bottom, marking his course +by a turbid streak in the stream: occasionally we are +made aware of the passage of one to some distance +down the current, in the same way; but in both +cases the action is so rapidly performed, that we +should scarcely imagine what was the cause, if not +previously informed. Except by burrowing into and +spoiling the banks, they are not productive of much +evil, their food consisting principally of the roots of +aquatic plants, in addition to the shell-fish. The +musky odour which gives rise to their common name +is caused by glandular organs placed near the tail, +filled with a viscid and powerfully musky fluid, +whose uses we know but little of, though it is +thought to be intended as a guide by which these +creatures may discover each other. This inference +is strengthened by finding some such contrivance in +different races of animals, in various modifications. +A great number carry it in pouches similar to those +just mentioned. Some, as the musk animal, have +the pouch under the belly; the shrew has the glands +on the side; the camel on the back of the neck; the +crocodile under the throat, etc. At least no other +use has ever been assigned for this apparatus, and in +all creatures possessing it the arrangement seems to +be adapted peculiarly to the habits of the animals. +The crocodile, for instance, generally approaches the +shore in such a manner as to apply the neck and +throat to the soil, while the hinder part of the body +is under water. The glands under the throat leave +the traces of his presence, therefore, with ease, as +they come into contact with the shore. The glandular +apparatus on the back of the neck of the male +camel, seems to have reference to the general elevation +of the olfactory organs of the female; and the +dorsal gland of the peccary, no doubt, has some similar +relation to the peculiarities of the race.</p> + +<p>The value of the fur of the muskrat causes many +of them to be destroyed, which is easily enough +effected by means of a trap. This is a simple box, +formed of rough boards nailed together, about three +feet long, having an iron door, made of pointed bars, +opening <i>inwards</i>, at both ends of the box. This +trap is placed with the end opposite to the entrance +of a burrow observed during the day-time. In the +night, when the muskrat sallies forth, he enters the +box, instead of passing into the open air, and is +drowned, as the box is quite filled with water. If +the traps be visited and emptied during the night, +two may be caught in each trap, as muskrats from +other burrows may come to visit those where the +traps are placed, and thus one be taken going in as +well as one coming out. These animals are frequently +very fat, and their flesh has a very wholesome appearance, +and would probably prove good food. The +musky odour, however, prejudices strongly against +its use; and it is probable that the flesh is rank, as +the muscles it feeds on are nauseous and bitter, and +the roots which supply the rest of its food are generally +unpleasant and acrid. Still, we should not +hesitate to partake of its flesh, in case of necessity, +especially if of a young animal, from which the +musk-bag had been removed immediately after it +was killed.</p> + +<p>In this vicinity the muskrat does not build himself +a house for the winter, as our fields and dykes +are too often visited. But in other parts of the +country, where extensive marshes exist, and muskrats +are abundant, they build very snug and substantial +houses, quite as serviceable and ingenious as +those of the beaver. They do not dam the water as +the beaver, nor cut branches of trees to serve for the +walls of their dwellings. They make it of mud and +rushes, raising a cone two or three feet high, having +the entrance on the south side, under water. About +the year 1804, I saw several of them in Worrell's +marsh, near Chestertown, Maryland, which were +pointed out to me by an old black man who made +his living principally by trapping these animals for +the sake of their skins. A few years since I visited +the marshes near the mouth of Magerthy river, in +Maryland, where I was informed, by a resident, that +the muskrats still built regularly every winter. Perhaps +these quadrupeds are as numerous in the vicinity +of Philadelphia as elsewhere, as I have never +examined a stream of fresh water, dyked meadow, or +mill-dam, hereabout, without seeing traces of vast +numbers. Along all the water-courses and meadows +in Jersey, opposite Philadelphia, and in the meadows +of the Neck, below the Navy-Yard, there must be +large numbers of muskrats. Considering the value +of the fur, and the ease and trifling expense at which +they might be caught, we have often felt surprised +that more of them are not taken, especially as we +have so many poor men complaining of wanting +something to do. By thinning the number of muskrats, +a positive benefit would be conferred on the +farmers and furriers, to say nothing of the profits to +the individual.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_IV" id="No_IV"></a>No. IV.</h2> + + +<p>My next visit to my old hunting-ground, the lane +and brook, happened on a day in the first hay-harvest, +when the verdant sward of the meadows was rapidly +sinking before the keen-edged scythes swung by +vigorous mowers. This unexpected circumstance +afforded me considerable pleasure, for it promised +me a freer scope to my wanderings, and might also +enable me to ascertain various particulars concerning +which my curiosity had long been awakened. +Nor was this promise unattended by fruition of my +wishes. The reader may recollect that, in my first +walk, a neat burrow in the grass, above ground, was +observed, without my knowing its author. The advance +of the mowers explained this satisfactorily, for +in cutting the long grass, they exposed several nests +of field-mice, which, by means of these grass-covered +alleys, passed to the stream in search of food or +drink, unseen by their enemies, the hawks and owls. +The numbers of these little creatures were truly surprising: +their fecundity is so great, and their food +so abundant, that, were they not preyed upon by +many other animals, and destroyed in great numbers +by man, they would become exceedingly troublesome. +There are various species of them, all bearing a very +considerable resemblance to each other, and having, +to an incidental observer, much of the appearance +of the domestic mouse. Slight attention, however, +is requisite to perceive very striking differences, and +the discrimination of these will prove a source of +considerable gratification to the inquirer. The nests +are very nicely made, and look much like a bird's +nest, being lined with soft materials, and usually +placed in some snug little hollow, or at the root of +a strong tuft of grass. Upon the grass roots and +seeds these nibblers principally feed; and, where +very abundant, the effects of their hunger may be +seen in the brown and withered aspect of the grass +they have injured at the root. But, under ordinary +circumstances, the hawks, owls, domestic cat, weasels, +crows, etc. keep them in such limits, as prevent them +from doing essential damage.</p> + +<p>I had just observed another and a smaller grassy +covered way, where the mowers had passed along, +when my attention was called towards a wagon at a +short distance, which was receiving its load. Shouts +and laughter, accompanied by a general running and +scrambling of the people, indicated that some rare +sport was going forward. When I approached, I +found that the object of chase was a jumping mouse, +whose actions it was truly delightful to witness. +When not closely pressed by its pursuers, it ran +with some rapidity, in the usual manner, as if seeking +concealment. But in a moment it would vault +into the air, and skim along for ten or twelve feet, +looking more like a bird than a little quadruped. +After continuing this for some time, and nearly +exhausting its pursuers with running and falling +over each other, the frightened creature was accidentally +struck down by one of the workmen, during +one of its beautiful leaps, and killed. As the hunters +saw nothing worthy of attention in the dead body +of the animal, they very willingly resigned it to me; +and with great satisfaction I retreated to a willow +shade, to read what nature had written in its form +for my instruction. The general appearance was +mouse-like; but the length and slenderness of the +body, the shortness of its fore-limbs, and the disproportionate +length of its hind-limbs, together with +the peculiarity of its tail, all indicated its adaptation +to the peculiar kind of action I had just witnessed. +A sight of this little creature vaulting or bounding +through the air, strongly reminded me of what I +had read of the great kangaroo of New Holland; +and I could not help regarding our little jumper +as in some respects a sort of miniature resemblance +of that curious animal. It was not evident, however, +that the jumping mouse derived the aid from +its tail, which so powerfully assists the kangaroo. +Though long, and sufficiently stout in proportion, it +had none of the robust muscularity which, in the +New Holland animal, impels the lower part of the +body immediately upward. In this mouse, the leap +is principally, if not entirely, effected by a sudden +and violent extension of the long hind-limbs, the +muscles of which are strong, and admirably suited +to their object. We have heard that these little +animals feed on the roots, etc. of the green herbage, +and that they are every season to be found in the +meadows. It may perhaps puzzle some to imagine +how they subsist through the severities of winter, +when vegetation is at rest, and the earth generally +frozen. Here we find another occasion to admire +the all-perfect designs of the awful Author of +nature, who has endowed a great number of animals +with the faculty of retiring into the earth, +and passing whole months in a state of repose so +complete, as to allow all the functions of the body +to be suspended, until the returning warmth of the +spring calls them forth to renewed activity and +enjoyment. The jumping mouse, when the chill +weather begins to draw nigh, digs down about six +or eight inches into the soil, and there forms a +little globular cell, as much larger than his own +body as will allow a sufficient covering of fine grass +to be introduced. This being obtained, he contrives +to coil up his body and limbs in the centre of the +soft dry grass, so as to form a complete ball; and so +compact is this, that, when taken out with the torpid +animal, it may be rolled across a floor without injury. +In this snug cell, which is soon filled up and closed +externally, the jumping mouse securely abides through +all the frosts and storms of winter, needing neither +food nor fuel, being utterly quiescent, and apparently +dead, though susceptible at any time of reanimation, +by being very gradually stimulated by +light and heat.</p> + +<p>The little burrow under examination, when called +to observe the jumping mouse, proved to be made +by the merry musicians of the meadows, the field-crickets, +<i>acheta campestris</i>. These lively black +crickets are very numerous, and contribute very +largely to that general song which is so delightful +to the ear of the true lover of nature, as it rises +on the air from myriads of happy creatures rejoicing +amid the bounties conferred on them by Providence. +It is not <i>a voice</i> that the crickets utter, but a regular +vibration of musical chords, produced by nibbing +the nervures of the elytra against a sort of network +intended to produce the vibrations. The reader +will find an excellent description of the apparatus +in Kirby and Spence's book, but he may enjoy a +much more satisfactory comprehension of the whole, +by visiting the field-cricket in his summer residence, +see him tuning his viol, and awakening the echoes +with his music. By such an examination as may +be there obtained, he may derive more knowledge +than by frequent perusal of the most eloquent writings, +and perhaps observe circumstances which the +learned authors are utterly ignorant of.</p> + +<p>Among the great variety of burrows formed in +the grass, or under the surface of the soil, by +various animals and insects, there is one that I +have often anxiously and, as yet, fruitlessly explored. +This burrow is formed by the smallest +quadruped animal known to man, the minute <i>shrew</i>, +which, when full grown, rarely exceeds the weight +of <i>thirty-six grains</i>. I had seen specimens of this +very interesting creature in the museum, and had +been taught, by a more experienced friend, to distinguish +its burrow, which I have often perseveringly +traced, with the hope of finding the living +animal, but in vain. On one occasion, I patiently +pursued a burrow nearly round a large barn, opening +it all the way. I followed it under the barn +floor, which was sufficiently high to allow me to +crawl beneath. There I traced it about to a tiresome +extent, and was at length rewarded by discovering +where it terminated, under a foundation-stone, +perfectly safe from my attempts. Most probably +a whole family of them were then present, +and I had my labour for my pains. As these little +creatures are nocturnal, and are rarely seen, from +the nature of the places they frequent, the most +probable mode of taking them alive would be, by +placing a small mouse-trap in their way, baited +with a little tainted or slightly spoiled meat. If a +common mouse-trap be used, it is necessary to work +it over with additional wire, as this shrew could +pass between the bars even of a close mouse-trap. +They are sometimes killed by cats, and thus obtained, +as the cat never eats them, perhaps on +account of their rank smell, owing to a peculiar +glandular apparatus on each side, that pours out a +powerfully odorous greasy substance. The species +of the shrew genus are not all so exceedingly diminutive, +as some of them are even larger than a common +mouse. They have their teeth coloured at the +tips in a remarkable manner; it is generally of a +pitchy brown, or dark chestnut hue, and, like the +colouring of the teeth in the beaver and other +animals, is owing to the enamel being thus formed, +and not to any mere accident of diet. The shrews +are most common about stables and cow-houses; +and there, should I ever take the field again, my +traps shall be set, as my desire to have one of these +little quadrupeds is still as great as ever.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_V" id="No_V"></a>No. V.</h2> + + +<p>Hitherto my rambles have been confined to the +neighbourhood of a single spot, with a view of +showing how perfectly accessible to all, are numerous +and various interesting natural objects. This habit +of observing in the manner indicated, began many +years anterior to my visit to the spots heretofore +mentioned, and have extended through many parts +of our own and another country. Henceforward my +observations shall be presented without reference to +particular places, or even of one place exclusively, +but with a view to illustrate whatever may be the +subject of description, by giving all I have observed +of it under various circumstances.</p> + +<p>A certain time of my life was spent in that part +of Anne Arundel county, Md. which is washed by +the river Patapsco on the north, the great Chesapeake +bay on the west, and the Severn river on the +south. It is in every direction cut up by creeks, or +arms of the rivers and bay, into long, flat strips of +land, called necks, the greater part of which is +covered by dense pine-forests, or thickets of small +shrubs and saplings, rendered impervious to human +footsteps by the growth of vines, whose inextricable +mazes nothing but a fox, wild-cat, or weasel could +thread. The soil cleared for cultivation is very +generally poor, light, and sandy, though readily +susceptible of improvement, and yielding a considerable +produce in Indian corn and most of the early +garden vegetables, by the raising of which for the +Baltimore market the inhabitants obtain all their +ready money. The blight of slavery has long extended +its influence over this region, where all its +usual effects are but too obviously visible. The +white inhabitants are few in number, widely distant +from each other; and manifest, in their mismanagement +and half-indigent circumstances, how trifling +an advantage they derive from the thraldom of their +dozen or more of sturdy blacks, of different sexes +and ages. The number of marshes formed at the +heads of the creeks, render this country frightfully +unhealthy in autumn, at which time the life of a +resident physician is one of incessant toil and severe +privation. Riding from morning till night, to get +round to visit a few patients, his road leads generally +through pine-forests, whose aged and lofty trees, encircled +by a dense undergrowth, impart an air of +sombre and unbroken solitude. Rarely or never +does he encounter a white person on his way, and +only once in a while will he see a miserably tattered +negro, seated on a sack of corn, carried by a starveling +horse or mule, which seems poorly able to bear +the weight to the nearest mill. The red-head wood-pecker and +the flicker, or yellow-hammer, a kindred +species, occasionally glance across his path; sometimes, +when he turns his horse to drink at the dark-coloured +branch (as such streams are locally called), +he disturbs a solitary rufous-thrush engaged in washing +its plumes; or, as he moves steadily along, he is +slightly startled by a sudden appearance of the towhé +bunting close to the side of the path. Except these +creatures, and these by no means frequently seen, he +rarely meets with animated objects: at a distance the +harsh voice of the crow is often heard, or flocks of +them are observed in the cleared fields, while now +and then the buzzard, or turkey-vulture, may be seen +wheeling in graceful circles in the higher regions of +the air, sustained by his broadly-expanded wings, +which apparently remain in a state of permanent +and motionless extension. At other seasons of the +year, the physician must be content to live in the +most positive seclusion: the white people are all +busily employed in going to and from market, and +even were they at home, they are poorly suited for +companionship. I here spent month after month, +and, except the patients I visited, saw no one but +the blacks: the house in which I boarded was kept +by a widower, who, with myself, was the only white +man within the distance of a mile or two. My only +compensation was this—the house was pleasantly +situated on the bank of Curtis's creek, a considerable +arm of the Patapsco, which extended for a mile +or two beyond us, and immediately in front of the +door expanded so as to form a beautiful little bay. +Of books I possessed very few, and those exclusively +professional; but in this beautiful expanse of sparkling +water, I had a book opened before me which a +life-time would scarcely suffice me to read through. +With the advantage of a small but neatly made and +easily manageable skiff, I was always independent +of the service of the blacks, which was ever repugnant +to my feelings and principles. I could convey +myself in whatever direction objects of inquiry might +present, and as my little bark was visible for a mile +in either direction from the house, a handkerchief +waved, or the loud shout of a negro, was sufficient to +recall me, in case my services were required.</p> + +<p>During the spring months, and while the garden +vegetables are yet too young to need a great deal of +attention, the proprietors frequently employ their +blacks in hauling the seine; and this in these creeks +is productive of an ample supply of yellow perch, +which affords a very valuable addition to the diet of +all. The blacks in an especial manner profit by this +period of plenty, since they are permitted to eat of +them without restraint, which cannot be said of any +other sort of provision allowed them. Even the pigs +and crows obtain their share of the abundance, as +the fishermen, after picking out the best fish, throw +the smaller ones on the beach. But as the summer +months approach, the aquatic grass begins to grow, +and this fishing can no longer be continued, because +the grass rolls the seine up in a wisp, so that it can +contain nothing. At this time the spawning season +of the different species of sun-fish begins, and to me +this was a time of much gratification. Along the +edge of the river, where the depth of water was not +greater than from four feet to as shallow as twelve +inches, an observer would discover a succession of +circular spots cleared of the surrounding grass, and +showing a clear sandy bed. These spots, or cleared +spaces, we may regard as the nest of this beautiful +fish. There, balanced in the transparent wave, at +the distance of six or eight inches from the bottom, +the sun-fish is suspended in the glittering sunshine, +gently swaying its beautiful tail and fins; or, wheeling +around in the limits of its little circle, appears +to be engaged in keeping it clear of all incumbrances. +Here the mother deposits her eggs or spawn, and +never did hen guard her callow brood with more +eager vigilance, than the sun-fish the little circle +within which her promised offspring are deposited. +If another individual approach too closely to her +borders, with a fierce and angry air she darts against +it, and forces it to retreat. Should any small and +not too heavy object be dropped in the nest, it is +examined with jealous attention, and displaced if the +owner be not satisfied of its harmlessness. At the +approach of man she flies with great velocity into +deep water, as if willing to conceal that her presence +was more than accidental where first seen. +She may, after a few minutes, be seen cautiously +venturing to return, which is at length done with +volocity; then she would take a hurried turn or two +around, and scud back again to the shady bowers +formed by the river grass, which grows up from the +bottom to within a few feet of the surface, and +attains to twelve, fifteen, or more feet in length. +Again she ventures forth from the depths; and, if +no farther cause of fear presented, would gently sail +into the placid circle of her home, and with obvious +satisfaction explore it in every part.</p> + +<p>Besides the absolute pleasure I derived from visiting +the habitations of these glittering tenants of the +river, hanging over them from my little skiff, and +watching their every action, they frequently furnished +me with a very acceptable addition to my +frugal table. Situated as my boarding-house was, +and all the inmates of the house busily occupied in +raising vegetables to be sent to market, our bill of +fare offered little other change than could be produced +by varying the mode of cookery. It was +either broiled bacon and potatoes, or fried bacon +and potatoes, or cold bacon and potatoes, and so on +at least six days out of seven. But, as soon as I +became acquainted with the habits of the sun-fish, I +procured a neat circular iron hoop for a net, secured +to it a piece of an old seine, and whenever I desired +to dine on <i>fresh</i> fish, it was only necessary to take +my skiff, and push her gently along from one sun-fish +nest to another, myriads of which might be seen +along all the shore. The fish, of course, darted off +as soon as the boat first drew near, and during this +absence the net was placed so as to cover the nest, +of the bottom of which the meshes but slightly intercepted +the view. Finding all things quiet, and +not being disturbed by the net, the fish would resume +its central station, the net was suddenly raised, +and the captive placed in the boat. In a quarter of +an hour, I could generally take as many in this way +as would serve two men for dinner; and when an +acquaintance accidentally called to see me, during +the season of sun-fish, it was always in my power to +lessen our dependence on the endless bacon. I could +also always select the finest and largest of these fish, +as, while standing up in the boat, one could see a +considerable number at once, and thus choose the +best. Such was their abundance, that the next day +would find all the nests reoccupied. Another circumstance +connected with this matter gave me no +small satisfaction: the poor blacks, who could rarely +get time for angling, soon learned how to use my net +with dexterity; and thus, in the ordinary time allowed +them for dinner, would borrow it, run down to +the shore, and catch some fish to add to their very +moderate allowance.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_VI" id="No_VI"></a>No. VI.</h2> + + +<p>After the sun-fish, as regular annual visitants of +the small rivers and creeks containing salt or brackish +water, came the crabs, in vast abundance, though +for a very different purpose. These singularly-constructed +and interesting beings furnished me with +another excellent subject for observation; and, during +the period of their visitation, my skiff was in daily +requisition. Floating along with an almost imperceptible +motion, a person looking from the shore +might have supposed her entirely adrift; for, as I +was stretched at full length across the seats, in order +to bring my sight as close to the water as possible +without inconvenience, no one would have observed +my presence from a little distance. The crabs belong +to a very extensive tribe of beings which carry their +<i>skeletons</i> on the <i>outside</i> of their bodies, instead of +within; and, of necessity, the fleshy, muscular, or +moving power of the body is placed in a situation +the reverse of what occurs in animals of a higher +order, which have internal skeletons or solid frames +to their systems. This peculiarity of the crustaceous +animals, and various other beings, is attended with +one apparent inconvenience—when they have grown +large enough to fill their shell or skeleton completely, +they cannot grow farther, because the skeleton, being +external, is incapable of enlargement. To obviate +this difficulty, the Author of nature has endowed +them with the power of casting off the entire shell, +increasing in size, and forming another equally hard +and perfect, for several seasons successively, until +the greatest or maximum size is attained, when the +change or sloughing ceases to be necessary, though +it is not always discontinued on that account. To +undergo this change with greater ease and security, +the crabs seek retired and peaceful waters, such as +the beautiful creek I have been speaking of, whose +clear, sandy shores are rarely disturbed by waves +causing more than a pleasing murmur, and where +the number of enemies must be far less, in proportion, +than in the boisterous waters of the Chesapeake, +their great place of concourse. From the first day +of their arrival, in the latter part of June, until the +time of their departure, which in this creek occurred +towards the first of August, it was astonishing to +witness the vast multitudes which flocked towards +the head of the stream.</p> + +<p>It is not until they have been for some time in the +creek, that the moult or sloughing generally commences. +They may be then observed gradually +coming closer in shore, to where the sand is fine, +fairly exposed to the sun, and a short distance farther +out than the lowest water-mark, as they must +always have at least a depth of three or four inches +water upon them.</p> + +<p>The individual having selected his place, becomes +perfectly quiescent, and no change is observed, during +some hours, but a sort of swelling along the edges +of the great upper shell at its back part. After a +time, this posterior edge of the shell becomes fairly +disengaged, like the lid of a chest, and now the more +difficult work of withdrawing the great claws from +their cases, which every one recollects to be vastly +larger at their extremities and between the joints +than the joints themselves. A still greater apparent +difficulty presents in the shedding of the sort of +tendon which is placed within the muscles. Nevertheless, +the Author of nature has adapted them to +the accomplishment of all this. The disproportionate +sized claws undergo a peculiar softening, which +enables the crab, by a very steadily continued, +scarcely perceptible effort, to pull them out of their +shells, and the business is completed by the separation +of the complex parts about the mouth and eyes. +The crab now slips out from the slough, settling near +it on the sand. It is now covered by a soft, perfectly +flexible skin; and, though possessing precisely the +same form as before, seems incapable of the slightest +exertion. Notwithstanding that such is its condition, +while you are gazing on this helpless creature, it is +sinking in the fine loose sand, and in a short time is +covered up sufficiently to escape the observation of +careless or inexperienced observers. Neither can one +say how this is effected, although it occurs under their +immediate observation; the motions employed to produce +the displacement of the sand are too slight to +be appreciated, though it is most probably owing to +a gradual lateral motion of the body, by which the +sand is displaced in the centre beneath, and thus +gradually forced up at the sides until it falls over +and covers the crab. Examine him within twelve +hours, and you will find the skin becoming about as +hard as fine writing-paper, producing a similar crackling +if compressed; twelve hours later, the shell is +sufficiently stiffened to require some slight force to +bend it, and the crab is said to be in <i>buckram</i>, as in +the first stage it was in <i>paper</i>. It is still helpless, +and offers no resistance; but, at the end of thirty-six +hours, it shows that its natural instincts are in +action, and, by the time forty-eight hours have +elapsed, the crab is restored to the exercise of all +his functions. I have stated the above as the periods +in which the stages of the moult are accomplished, +but I have often observed that the rapidity of this +process is very much dependent upon the temperature, +and especially upon sunshine. A cold, cloudy, +raw, and disagreeable spell happening at this period, +though by no means common, will retard the operation +considerably, protracting the period of helplessness. +This is the harvest season of the white fisherman +and of the poor slave. The laziest of the former +are now in full activity, wading along the shore from +morning till night, dragging a small boat after them, +and holding in the other hand a forked stick, with +which they raise the crabs from the sand. The +period during which the crabs remain in the paper +state is so short, that great activity is required to +gather a sufficient number to take to market, but the +price at which they are sold is sufficient to awaken +all the cupidity of the crabbers. Two dollars a dozen +is by no means an uncommon price for them, when +the season first comes on: they subsequently come +down to a dollar, and even to fifty cents, at any of +which rates the trouble of collecting them is well +paid. The slaves search for them at night, and then +are obliged to kindle a fire of pine-knots on the bow +of the boat, which strongly illuminates the surrounding +water, and enables them to discover the crabs. +Soft crabs are, with great propriety, regarded as an +exquisite treat by those who are fond of such eating; +and though many persons are unable to use crabs or +lobsters in any form, there are few who taste of the +soft crabs without being willing to recur to them. As +an article of luxury, they are scarcely known north +of the Chesapeake, though there is nothing to prevent +them from being used to a considerable extent +in Philadelphia, especially since the opening of the +Chesapeake and Delaware canal. During the last +summer, I had the finest soft crabs from Baltimore. +They arrived at the market in the afternoon, were +fried according to rule, and placed in a tin butter-kettle, +then covered for an inch or two with melted +lard, and put on board the steam-boat which left +Baltimore at five o'clock the same afternoon. The +next morning before ten o'clock they were in Philadelphia, +and at one they were served up at dinner in +Germantown. The only difficulty in the way is that +of having persons to attend to their procuring and +transmission, as, when cooked directly after they +arrive at market, and forwarded with as little delay +as above mentioned, there is no danger of their being +the least injured.</p> + +<p>At other seasons, when the crabs did not come +close to the shore, I derived much amusement by +taking them in the deep water. This is always easily +effected by the aid of proper bait: a leg of chicken, +piece of any raw meat, or a salted or spoiled herring, +tied to a twine string of sufficient length, and a hand +net of convenient size, is all that is necessary. You +throw out your line and bait, or you fix as many lines +to your boat as you please, and in a short time you +see, by the straightening of the line, that the bait +has been seized by a crab, who is trying to make off +with it. You then place your net where it can conveniently +be picked up, and commence steadily but +gently to draw in your line, until you have brought +the crab sufficiently near the surface to distinguish +him: if you draw him nearer, he will see you, and +immediately let go; otherwise, his greediness and +voracity will make him cling to his prey to the last. +Holding the line in the left hand, you now dip your +net edge foremost into the water at some distance +from the line, carry it down perpendicularly until it +is five or six inches lower than the crab, and then +with a sudden turn bring it directly before him, and +lift up at the same time. Your prize is generally +secured, if your net be at all properly placed; for, +as soon as he is alarmed, he pushes directly downwards, +and is received in the bag of the net. It is +better to have a little water in the bottom of the +boat, to throw them into, as they are easier emptied +out of the net, always letting go when held over the +water. This a good crabber never forgets, and should +he unluckily be seized by a large crab, he holds him +over the water, and is freed at once, though he loses +his game. When not held over the water, they bite +sometimes with dreadful obstinacy; and I have seen +it necessary to crush the forceps or claws before one +could be induced to let go the fingers of a boy. A +poor black fellow also placed himself in an awkward +situation—the crab seized him by a finger of his +right hand, but he was unwilling to lose his captive +by holding him over the water; instead of which, +he attempted to secure the other claw with his left +hand, while he tried to crush the biting claw between +his teeth. In doing this, he somehow relaxed his +left hand, and with the other claw the crab seized +poor Jem by his under lip, which was by no means +a thin one, and forced him to roar with pain. With +some difficulty he was freed from his tormentor, but +it was several days before he ceased to excite laughter, +as the severe bite was followed by a swelling of the +lip, which imparted a most ludicrous expression to a +naturally comical countenance.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_VII" id="No_VII"></a>No. VII.</h2> + + +<p>On the first arrival of the crabs, when they throng +the shoals of the creeks in vast crowds, as heretofore +mentioned, a very summary way of taking them is +resorted to by the country people, and for a purpose +that few would suspect, without having witnessed it. +They use a three-pronged fork or gig, made for this +sport, attached to a long handle; the crabber, standing +up in the skiff, pushes it along until he is over a +large collection of crabs, and then strikes his spear +among them. By this several are transfixed at once, +and lifted into the boat, and the operation is repeated +until enough have been taken. The purpose to which +they are to be applied is to feed the hogs, which very +soon learn to collect in waiting upon the beach, when +the crab spearing is going on. Although these bristly +gentry appear to devour almost all sorts of food with +great relish, it seemed to me that they regarded the +crabs as a most luxurious banquet; and it was truly +amusing to see the grunters, when the crabs were +thrown on shore for them, and were scampering off +in various directions, seizing them in spite of their +threatening claws, holding them down with one foot, +and speedily reducing them to a state of helplessness +by breaking off their forceps. Such a crunching +and cracking of the unfortunate crabs I never have +witnessed since; and I might have commiserated +them more, had not I known that death in some form +or other was continually awaiting them, and that +their devourers were all destined to meet their fate +in a few months in the stye, and thence through the +smoke-house to be placed upon our table. On the +shores of the Chesapeake I have caught crabs in a +way commonly employed by all those who are unprovided +with boats and nets. This is to have a +forked stick and a baited line, with which the +crabber wades out as far as he thinks fit, and then +throws out his line. As soon as he finds he has a +bite, he draws the line in, cautiously lifting but a +very little from the bottom. As soon as it is near +enough to be fairly in reach, he quickly, yet with as +little movement as possible, secures the crab by +placing the forked stick across his body, and pressing +him against the sand. He must then stoop down +and take hold of the crab by the two posterior swimming +legs, so as to avoid being seized by the claws. +Should he not wish to carry each crab ashore as he +catches it, he pinions or <i>spansels</i> (as the fishermen +call it) them. This is a very effectual mode of disabling +them from using their biting claws, yet it is +certainly not the most humane operation: it is done +by taking the first of the sharp-pointed feet of each +side, and forcing it in for the length of the joint +behind the moveable joint or thumb of the opposite +biting claw. The crabs are then strung upon a +string or wythe, and allowed to hang in the water +until the crabber desists from his occupations. In +the previous article, crabs were spoken of as curious +and interesting, and the reader may not consider the +particulars thus far given as being particularly so. +Perhaps, when he takes them altogether, he will +agree that they have as much that is curious about +their construction as almost any animal we have +mentioned, and in the interesting details we have +as yet made but a single step.</p> + +<p>The circumstance of the external skeleton has +been mentioned; but who would expect an animal +as low in the scale as a crab, to be furnished with +ten or twelve pair of jaws to its mouth? Yet such +is the fact; and all these variously-constructed pieces +are provided with appropriate muscles, and move in +a manner which can scarcely be explained, though +it may be very readily comprehended when once +observed in living nature. But, after all the complexity +of the jaws, where would an inexperienced +person look for their teeth?—surely not in the +stomach?—nevertheless, such is their situation; +and these are not mere appendages, that are called +teeth by courtesy, but stout, regular grinding teeth, +with a light brown surface. They are not only +within the stomach, but fixed to a cartilage nearest +to its lower extremity, so that the food, unlike +that of other creatures, is submitted to the action +of the teeth as it is passing <i>from</i> the stomach, +instead of being chewed before it is swallowed. +In some species the teeth are five in number; but +throughout this class of animals the same general +principle of construction may be observed. Crabs +and their kindred have no brain, because they are +not required to reason upon what they observe: +they have a nervous system excellently suited to +their mode of life, and its knots or ganglia send +out nerves to the organs of sense, digestion, motion, +etc. The senses of these beings are very acute, +especially their sight, hearing, and smell. Most +of my readers have heard of crabs' eyes, or have +seen these organs in the animal on the end of two +little projecting knobs, above and on each side of +the mouth: few of them, however, have seen the +crab's ear; yet it is very easily found, and is a +little triangular bump placed near the base of the +feelers. This bump has a membrane stretched over +it, and communicates with a small cavity, which is +the internal ear. The <i>organ</i> of smell is not so +easily demonstrated as that of hearing, though the +evidence of their possessing the sense to an acute +degree is readily attainable. A German naturalist +inferred, from the fact of the nerve corresponding +to the olfactory nerve in man being distributed to +the antennæ, in insects, that the antennæ were the +organs of smell in them. Cuvier and others suggest +that a similar arrangement may exist in the crustacea. +To satisfy myself whether it was so or not, I +lately dissected a small lobster, and was delighted +to find that the first pair of nerves actually went +to the antennæ, and gave positive support to the +opinion mentioned. I state this, not to claim credit +for ascertaining the truth or inaccuracies of a +suggestion, but with a view of inviting the reader +to do the same in all cases of doubt. Where it is +possible to refer to <i>nature</i> for the actual condition +of facts, learned <i>authorities</i> give me no uneasiness. +If I find that the structure bears out their opinions, +it is more satisfactory; when it convicts them of +absurdity, it saves much fruitless reading, as well as +the trouble of shaking off prejudices.</p> + +<p>The first time my attention was called to the +extreme acuteness of sight possessed by these animals, +was during a walk along the flats of Long +Island, reaching towards Governor's Island, in New +York, A vast number of the small land-crabs, +called fiddlers by the boys (<i>gecarcinus</i>), occupy +burrows or caves dug in the marshy soil, whence +they come out and go for some distance, either +in search of food or to sun themselves. Long +before I approached close enough to see their forms +with distinctness, they were scampering towards +their holes, into which they plunged with a tolerable +certainty of escape—these retreats being of +considerable depth, and often communicating with +each other, as well as nearly filled with water. On +endeavouring cautiously to approach some others, +it was quite amusing to observe their vigilance—to +see them slowly change position, and, from lying +extended in the sun, beginning to gather themselves +up for a start, should it prove necessary: at +length standing up, as it were, on tiptoe, and raising +their pedunculated eyes as high as possible. One +quick step on the part of the individual approaching +was enough—away they would go, with a celerity +which must appear surprising to any one who had +not previously witnessed it. What is more remarkable, +they possess the power of moving equally well +with any part of the body foremost; so that, when +endeavouring to escape, they will suddenly dart off +to one side or the other, without turning round, and +thus elude pursuit. My observations upon the crustaceous +animals have extended through many years, +and in very various situations; and for the sake of +making the general view of their qualities more +satisfactory, I will go on to state what I remarked +of some of the genera and species in the West +Indies, where they are exceedingly numerous and +various. The greater proportion of the genera feed +on animal matter, especially after decomposition has +begun: a large number are exclusively confined to +the deep waters, and approach the shoals and lands +only during the spawning season. Many live in +the sea, but daily pass many hours upon the rocky +shores for the pleasure of basking in the sun; +others live in marshy or moist ground, at a considerable +distance from the water, and feed principally +on vegetable food, especially the sugar-cane, +of which they are extremely destructive. Others, +again, reside habitually on the hills or mountains, +and visit the sea only once a year, for the purpose +of depositing their eggs in the sand. All those +which reside in burrows made in moist ground, +and those coming daily on the rocks to bask in +the sun, participate in about an equal degree in +the qualities of vigilance and swiftness. Many a +breathless race have I run in vain, attempting to +intercept them, and prevent their escaping into the +sea. Many an hour of cautious and solicitous +endeavour to steal upon them unobserved, has been +frustrated by their long-sighted watchfulness; and +several times, when, by extreme care and cunning +approaches, I have actually succeeded in getting +between a fine specimen and the sea, and had full +hope of driving him farther inland, have all my +anticipations been ruined by the wonderful swiftness +of their flight, or the surprising facility with +which they would dart off in the very opposite +direction, at the very moment I felt almost sure +of my prize. One day, in particular, I saw on a +flat rock, which afforded a fine sunning place, +the most beautiful crab I had ever beheld. It +was of the largest size, and would have covered a +large dinner-plate, most beautifully coloured with +bright crimson below, and a variety of tints of +blue, purple, and green above: it was just such +a specimen as could not fail to excite all the solicitude +of a collector to obtain. But it was not +in the least deficient in the art of self-preservation: +my most careful manœuvres proved ineffectual, and +all my efforts only enabled me to see enough of it +to augment my regrets to a high degree. Subsequently, +I saw a similar individual in the collection +of a resident: this had been killed against +the rocks during a violent hurricane, with very +slight injury to its shell. I offered high rewards +to the black people if they would bring me such +a one, but the most expert among them seemed +to think it an unpromising search, as they knew +of no way of capturing them. If I had been +supplied with some powder of nux vomica, with +which to poison some meat, I <i>might</i> have succeeded.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_VIII" id="No_VIII"></a>No. VIII.</h2> + + +<p>The fleet running crab (<i>cypoda pugilator</i>), mentioned +as living in burrows dug in a moist soil, and +preying chiefly on the sugar-cane, is justly regarded +as one of the most noxious pests that can infest a +plantation. Their burrows extend to a great depth, +and run in various directions; they are also, like +those of our fiddlers, nearly full of muddy water, so +that, when these marauders once plump into their +dens, they may be considered as entirely beyond +pursuit. Their numbers are so great, and they multiply +in such numbers, as in some seasons to destroy +a large proportion of a sugar crop; and sometimes +their ravages, combined with those of the rats and +other plunderers, are absolutely ruinous to the sea-side +planters. I was shown, by the superintendant +of a place thus infested, a great quantity of cane +utterly killed by these creatures, which cut it off in +a peculiar manner, in order to suck the juice; and +he assured me that, during that season, the crop +would be two-thirds less than its average, solely +owing to the inroads of the crabs and rats, which, +if possible, are still more numerous. It was to me +an irresistible source of amusement to observe the +air of spite and vexation with which he spoke of the +crabs: the rats he could shoot, poison, or drive off +for a time with dogs. But the crabs would not eat +his poison, while sugar-cane was growing; the dogs +could only chase them into their holes; and if, in +helpless irritation, he sometimes fired his gun at a +cluster of them, the shot only rattled over their +shells like hail against a window. It is truly desirable +that some summary mode of lessening their +number could be devised, and it is probable that this +will be best effected by poison, as it may be possible +to obtain a bait sufficiently attractive to ensnare +them. Species of this genus are found in various +parts of our country, more especially towards the +south. About Cape May, our friends may have excellent +opportunities of testing the truth of what is +said of their swiftness and vigilance.</p> + +<p>The land-crab, which is common to many of the +West India Islands, is more generally known as the +Jamaica crab, because it has been most frequently +described from observation in that island. Wherever +found, they have all the habit of living, during great +part of the year, in the highlands, where they pass +the day-time concealed in huts, cavities, and under +stones, and come out at night for their food. They +are remarkable for collecting in vast bodies, and +marching annually to the sea-side, in order to deposit +their eggs in the sand; and this accomplished, +they return to their former abodes, if undisturbed. +They commence their march in the night, and move +in the most direct line towards the destined point. +So obstinately do they pursue this route, that they +will not turn out of it for any obstacle that can possibly +be surmounted. During the day-time they +skulk and lie hid as closely as possible, but thousands +upon thousands of them are taken for the use +of the table, by whites and blacks, as on their seaward +march they are very fat, and of fine flavour. +On the homeward journey, those that have escaped +capture are weak, exhausted, and unfit for use. Before +dismissing the crabs, I must mention one which +was a source of much annoyance to me at first, and +of considerable interest afterwards, from the observation +of its habits. At that time I resided in a +house delightfully situated about two hundred yards +from the sea, fronting the setting sun, having in +clear weather the lofty mountains of Porto Rico, +distant about eighty miles, in view. Like most of +the houses in the island, ours had seen better days, +as was evident from various breaks in the floors, +angles rotted off the doors, sunken sills, and other +indications of decay. Our sleeping room, which was +on the lower floor, was especially in this condition; +but as the weather was delightfully warm, a few +cracks and openings, though rather large, did not +threaten much inconvenience. Our bed was provided +with that indispensable accompaniment, a musquito +bar or curtain, to which we were indebted for +escape from various annoyances. Scarcely had we +extinguished the light, and composed ourselves to +rest, when we heard, in various parts of the room, +the most startling noises. It appeared as if numerous +hard and heavy bodies were trailed along the +floor; then they sounded as if climbing up by the +chairs and other furniture, and frequently something +like a large stone would tumble down from such elevations, +with a loud noise, followed by a peculiar +chirping noise. What an effect this produced upon +entirely inexperienced strangers, may well be imagined +by those who have been suddenly waked up +in the dark, by some unaccountable noise in the +room. Finally, these invaders began to ascend the +bed; but happily the musquito bar was securely +tucked under the bed all around, and they were +denied access, though their efforts and tumbles to +the floor produced no very comfortable reflections. +Towards day-light they began to retire, and in the +morning no trace of any such visitants could be perceived. +On mentioning our troubles, we were told +that this nocturnal disturber was only Bernard the +Hermit, called generally the soldier-crab, perhaps +from the peculiar habit he has of protecting his +body by thrusting it into any empty shell, which he +afterwards carries about until he outgrows it, when +it is relinquished for a larger. Not choosing to pass +another night quite so noisily, due care was taken to +exclude Monsieur Bernard, whose knockings were +thenceforward confined to the outside of the house. +I baited a large wire rat-trap with some corn-meal, +and placed it outside of the back door, and in the +morning found it literally half filled with these crabs, +from the largest-sized shell that could enter the trap, +down to such as were not larger than a hickory-nut. +Here was a fine collection made at once, affording a +very considerable variety in the size and age of the +specimens, and the different shells into which they +had introduced themselves.</p> + +<p>The soldier or hermit-crab, when withdrawn from +his adopted shell, presents, about the head and claws, +a considerable family resemblance to the lobster. The +claws, however, are very short and broad, and the +body covered with hard shell only in that part which +is liable to be exposed or protruded. The posterior +or abdominal part of the body is covered only by a +tough skin, and tapers towards a small extremity, +furnished with a sort of hook-like apparatus, enabling +it to hold on to its factitious dwelling. Along the +surface of its abdomen, as well as on the back, there +are small projections, apparently intended for the +same purpose. When once fairly in possession of a +shell, it would be quite a difficult matter to pull the +crab out, though a very little heat applied to the +shell will quickly induce him to leave it. The shells +they select are taken solely with reference to their +suitableness, and hence you may catch a considerable +number of the same species, each of which is in a +different species or genus of shell. The shells commonly +used by them, when of larger size, are those +of the whilk, which are much used as an article of +food by the islanders, or the smaller conch [strombus] +shells. The very young hermit-crabs are found in +almost every variety of small shell found on the +shores of the Antilles. I have frequently been +amused by ladies eagerly engaged in making collections +of these beautiful little shells, and not dreaming +of their being tenanted by a living animal, suddenly +startled, on displaying their acquisitions, by +observing them to be actively endeavouring to escape; +or, on introducing the hand into the reticule to produce +a particularly fine specimen, to receive a smart +pinch from the claws of the little hermit. The instant +the shell is closely approached or touched, they +withdraw as deeply into the shell as possible, and the +small ones readily escape observation, but they soon +become impatient of captivity, and try to make off. +The species of this genus (<i>pagurus</i>) are very numerous, +and during the first part of their lives are all +aquatic; that is, they are hatched in the little pools +about the margin of the sea, and remain there until +those that are destined to live on land are stout +enough to commence their travels. The hermit-crabs, +which are altogether aquatic, are by no means +so careful to choose the lightest and thinnest shells, +as the land troops. The aquatic soldiers may be +seen towing along shells of the most disproportionate +size; but their relatives, who travel over the hills by +moonlight, know that all unnecessary incumbrance +of weight should be avoided. They are as pugnacious +and spiteful as any of the crustaceous class; +and when taken, or when they fall and jar themselves +considerably, utter a chirping noise, which is +evidently an angry expression. They are ever ready +to bite with their claws, and the pinch of the larger +individuals is quite painful. It is said that, when +they are changing their shells, for the sake of obtaining +more commodious coverings, they frequently +fight for possession, which may be true where two +that have forsaken their old shells meet, or happen +to make choice of the same vacant one. It is also +said, that one crab is sometimes forced to give up the +shell he is in, should a stronger chance to desire it. +This, as I never saw it, I must continue to doubt; +for I cannot imagine how the stronger could possibly +accomplish his purpose, seeing that the occupant has +nothing to do but keep close quarters. The invader +would have no chance of seizing him to pull him out, +nor could he do him any injury by biting upon the +surface of his hard claws, the only part that would +be exposed. If it be true that one can dispossess +the other, it must be by some contrivance of which +we are still ignorant. These soldier-crabs feed on a +great variety of substances, scarcely refusing anything +that is edible: like the family they belong to, +they have a decided partiality for putrid meats, and +the planters accuse them also of too great a fondness +for the sugar-cane. Their excursions are altogether +nocturnal: in the day-time they lie concealed very +effectually in small holes, among stones, or any kind +of rubbish, and are rarely taken notice of, even where +hundreds are within a short distance of each other. +The larger soldier-crabs are sometimes eaten by the +blacks, but they are not much sought after even by +them, as they are generally regarded with aversion +and prejudice. There is no reason, that we are +aware of, why they should not be as good as many +other crabs, but they certainly are not equally +esteemed.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_IX" id="No_IX"></a>No. IX.</h2> + + +<p>Those who have only lived in forest countries, +where vast tracts are shaded by a dense growth of +oak, ash, chestnut, hickory, and other trees of deciduous +foliage, which present the most pleasing varieties +of verdure and freshness, can have but little idea +of the effect produced on the feelings by aged forests +of pine, composed in a great degree of a single species, +whose towering summits are crowned with one +dark green canopy, which successive seasons find unchanged, +and nothing but death causes to vary. Their +robust and gigantic trunks rise an hundred or more +feet high, in purely proportioned columns, before the +limbs begin to diverge; and their tops, densely +clothed with long, bristling foliage, intermingle so +closely as to allow of but slight entrance to the sun. +Hence, the undergrowth of such forests is comparatively +slight and thin, since none but shrubs, and +plants that love the shade, can flourish under this +perpetual exclusion of the animating and invigorating +rays of the great exciter of the vegetable world. +Through such forests, and by the merest foot-paths, +in great part, it was my lot to pass many miles almost +every day; and had I not endeavoured to derive some +amusement and instruction from the study of the +forest itself, my time would have been as fatiguing +to me, as it was certainly quiet and solemn. But +wherever nature is, and under whatever form she +may present herself, enough is always proffered to +fix attention and produce pleasure, if we will condescend +to observe with carefulness. I soon found that +even a pine-forest was far from being devoid of interest, +and shall endeavour to prove this by stating +the result of various observations made during the +time I lived in this situation.</p> + +<p>The common pitch, or, as it is generally called, +Norway pine, grows from a seed, which is matured +in vast abundance in the large cones peculiar to the +pines. This seed is of a rather triangular shape, +thick and heavy at the part by which it grows from +the cone, and terminating in a broad membranous +fan or sail, which, when the seeds are shaken out by +the wind, enables them to sail obliquely through the +air to great distances. Should an old corn-field, or +other piece of ground, be thrown out of cultivation +for more than one season, it is sown with pine-seeds +by the winds, and the young pines shoot up as closely +and compactly as hemp. They continue to grow in +this manner until they become twelve or fifteen feet +high, until their roots begin to encroach on each +other, or until the stoutest and best rooted begin to +overtop so as entirely to shade the smaller. These +gradually begin to fail, and finally dry up and perish, +and a similar process is continued until the best trees +acquire room enough to grow without impediment. +Even when the young pines have attained to thirty +or forty feet in height, and are as thick as a man's +thigh, they stand so closely together that their lower +branches, which are all dry and dead, are intermingled +sufficiently to prevent any one from passing +between the trees, without first breaking these obstructions +away. I have seen such a wood as that +just mentioned, covering an old corn-field, whose +ridges were still distinctly to be traced, and which +an old resident informed me he had seen growing in +corn. In a part of this wood, which was not far +from my dwelling, I had a delightful retreat, that +served me as a private study or closet, though enjoying +all the advantages of the open air. A road that +had once passed through the field, and was of course +more compacted than any other part, had denied +access to the pine-seeds for a certain distance, while +on each side of it they grew with their usual density. +The ground was covered with the soft layer or carpet +of dried pine leaves which gradually and imperceptibly +fall throughout the year, making a most pleasant +surface to tread on, and rendering the step perfectly +noiseless. By beating off with a stick all the dried +branches that projected towards the vacant space, I +formed a sort of chamber, fifteen or twenty feet long, +which above was canopied by the densely-mingled +branches of the adjacent trees, which altogether excluded +or scattered the rays of the sun, and on all +sides was so shut in by the trunks of the young trees, +as to prevent all observation. Hither, during the hot +season, I was accustomed to retire for the purpose of +reading or meditation; and within this deeper solitude, +where all was solitary, very many of the subsequent +movements of my life were suggested or devised.</p> + +<p>From all I could observe, and all the inquiries I +could get answered, it appeared that this rapidly-growing +tree does not attain its full growth until it +is eighty or ninety years old, nor does its time of full +health and vigour much exceed an hundred. Before +this time it is liable to the attacks of insects, but +these are of a kind that bore the tender spring +shoots to deposit their eggs therein, and their larvæ +appear to live principally on the sap, which is very +abundant, so that the tree is but slightly injured. +But after the pine has attained its acmé, it is attacked +by an insect which deposits its egg in the body of +the tree, and the larva devours its way through the +solid substance of the timber; so that, after a pine +has been for one or two seasons subjected to these +depredators, it will be fairly riddled, and, if cut +down, is unfit for any other purpose than burning. +Indeed, if delayed too long, it is poorly fit for firewood, +so thoroughly do these insects destroy its substance. +At the same time that one set of insects is +engaged in destroying the body, myriads of others +are at work under the bark, destroying the sap vessels, +and the foliage wears a more and more pale and +sickly appearance as the tree declines in vigour. If +not cut down, it eventually dies, becomes leafless, +stripped of its bark, and, as the decay advances, all +the smaller branches are broken off; and it stands +with its naked trunk and a few ragged limbs, as if +bidding defiance to the tempest which howls around +its head. Under favourable circumstances, a large +trunk will stand in this condition for nearly a century, +so extensive and powerful are its roots, so firm +and stubborn the original knitting of its giant frame. +At length some storm, more furious than all its predecessors, +wrenches those ponderous roots from the +soil, and hurls the helpless carcass to the earth, +crushing all before it in its fall. Without the aid +of fire, or some peculiarity of situation favourable to +rapid decomposition, full another hundred years will +be requisite to reduce it to its elements, and obliterate +the traces of its existence. Indeed, long after +the lapse of more than that period, we find the heart +of the pitch-pine still preserving its original form, +and, from being thoroughly imbued with turpentine, +become utterly indestructible except by fire.</p> + +<p>If the proprietor attend to the warnings afforded +by the wood-pecker, he may always cut his pines in +time to prevent them from being injured by insects. +The wood-peckers run up and around the trunks, +tapping from time to time with their powerful bill. +The bird knows at once by the sound whether there +be insects below or not. If the tree is sound, the +wood-pecker soon forsakes it for another; should he +begin to break into the bark, it is to catch the worm; +and such trees are at once to be marked for the axe. +In felling such pines, I found the woodmen always +anxious to avoid letting them strike against neighbouring +sound trees, as they said that the insects +more readily attacked an injured tree than one +whose bark was unbroken. The observation is most +probably correct; at least the experience of country +folks in such matters is rarely wrong, though they +sometimes give very odd reasons for the processes +they adopt.</p> + +<p>A full-grown pine-forest is at all times a grand +and majestic object to one accustomed to moving +through it. Those vast and towering columns, sustaining +a waving crown of deepest verdure; those +robust and rugged limbs standing forth at a vast +height overhead, loaded with the cones of various +seasons; and the diminutiveness of all surrounding +objects compared with these gigantic children of +nature, cannot but inspire ideas of seriousness, and +even of melancholy. But how awful and even tremendous +does such a situation become, when we +hear the first wailings of the gathering storm, as it +stoops upon the lofty summits of the pine, and soon +increases to a deep hoarse roaring, as the boughs +begin to wave in the blast, and the whole tree is +forced to sway before its power. In a short time +the fury of the wind is at its height, the loftiest +trees bend suddenly before it, and scarce regain +their upright position ere they are again obliged to +cower beneath its violence. Then the tempest literally +howls, and amid the tremendous reverberations +of thunder, and the blazing glare of the lightning, +the unfortunate wanderer hears around him the +crash of numerous trees hurled down by the storm, +and knows not but the next may be precipitated +upon him. More than once have I witnessed all the +grandeur, dread, and desolation of such a scene, and +have always found safety either by seeking as quickly +as possible a spot where there were none but young +trees, or, if on a main road, choosing the most open +and exposed situation out of the reach of the large +trees. There, seated on my horse, who seemed to +understand the propriety of such patience, I would +quietly remain, however thoroughly drenched, until +the fury of the wind was completely over. To say +nothing of the danger from falling trees, the peril +of being struck by the lightning, which so frequently +shivers the loftiest of them, is so great as +to render any attempt to advance at such time highly +imprudent.</p> + +<p>Like the ox among animals, the pine-tree may be +looked upon as one of the most universally useful of +the sons of the forest. For all sorts of building, for +firewood, tar, turpentine, rosin, lamp-black, and a vast +variety of other useful products, this tree is invaluable +to man. Nor is it a pleasing contemplation, to +one who knows its usefulness, to observe to how vast +an amount it is annually destroyed in this country, +beyond the proportion that nature can possibly supply. +However, we are not disposed to believe that +this evil will ever be productive of very great injury, +especially as coal fuel is becoming annually more extensively +used. Nevertheless, were I the owner of a +pine-forest, I should exercise a considerable degree +of care in the selection of the wood for the axe.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_X" id="No_X"></a>No. X.</h2> + + +<p>Among the enemies with which the farmers of a +poor or light soil have to contend, I know of none so +truly formidable and injurious as the crows, whose +numbers, cunning, and audacity can scarcely be +appreciated, except by those who have had long-continued +and numerous opportunities of observation. +Possessed of the most acute senses, and endowed +by nature with a considerable share of reasoning +power, these birds bid defiance to almost all the contrivances +resorted to for their destruction; and when +their numbers have accumulated to vast multitudes, +which annually occurs, it is scarcely possible to estimate +the destruction they are capable of effecting. +Placed in a situation where every object was subjected +to close observation, as a source of amusement, +it is not surprising that my attention should +be drawn to so conspicuous an object as the crow; +and having once commenced remarking the peculiarities +of this bird, I continued to bestow attention +upon it during many years, in whatever situation it +was met with. The thickly-wooded and well-watered +parts of the State of Maryland, as affording them +a great abundance of food, and almost entire security +during their breeding season, are especially infested +by these troublesome creatures, so that at some +times of the year they are collected in numbers which +would appear incredible to any one unaccustomed to +witness their accumulations.</p> + +<p>Individually, the common crow (<i>corvus corona</i>) +may be compared in character with the brown or +Norway rat, being, like that quadruped, addicted to +all sorts of mischief, destroying the lives of any small +creatures that may fall in its way, plundering with +audacity wherever anything is exposed to its rapaciousness, +and triumphing by its cunning over the +usual artifices employed for the destruction of ordinary +noxious animals. Where food is at any time +scarce, or the opportunity for such marauding inviting, +there is scarcely a young animal about the +farm-yards safe from the attacks of the crow. Young +chickens, ducks, goslings, and even little pigs, when +quite young and feeble, are carried off by them. +They are not less eager to discover the nests of domestic +fowls; and will sit very quietly in sight, at a +convenient distance, until the hen leaves the nest, +and then fly down and suck her eggs at leisure. But +none of their tricks excited in me a greater interest, +than the observation of their attempts to rob a hen +of her chicks. The crow, alighting at a little distance +from the hen, would advance in an apparently +careless way towards the brood, when the vigilant +parent would bristle up her feathers, and rush at the +black rogue to drive him off. After several such +approaches, the hen would become very angry, and +would chase the crow to a greater distance from the +brood. This is the very object the robber has in +view, for, as long as the parent keeps near her young, +the crow has very slight chance of success; but as +soon as he can induce her to follow him to a little +distance from the brood, he takes advantage of his +wings, and, before she can regain her place, has +flown over her, and seized one of her chickens. +When the cock is present, there is still less danger +from such an attack, for chanticleer shows all his +vigilance and gallantry in protecting his tender offspring, +though it frequently happens that the number +of hens with broods renders it impossible for him to +extend his care to all. When the crow tries to carry +off a gosling from the mother, it requires more daring +and skill, and is far less frequently successful than +in the former instance. If the gander be in company, +which he almost uniformly is, the crow has his +labour in vain. Notwithstanding the advantages of +flight and superior cunning, the honest vigilance and +determined bravery of the former are too much for +him. His attempts to approach, however cautiously +conducted, are promptly met, and all his tricks rendered +unavailing, by the fierce movements of the +gander, whose powerful blows the crow seems to be +well aware might effectually disable him. The first +time I witnessed such a scene, I was at the side of +the creek, and saw on the opposite shore a goose +with her goslings, beset by a crow: from the apparent +alarm of the mother and brood, it seemed to me +they must be in great danger, and I called to the +owner of the place, who happened to be in sight, to +inform him of their situation. Instead of going to +their relief, he shouted back to me, to ask if the +gander was not there too; and as soon as he was +answered in the affirmative, he bid me be under no +uneasiness, as the crow would find his match. Nothing +could exceed the cool impudence and pertinacity +of the crow, who, perfectly regardless of my +shouting, continued to worry the poor gander for an +hour, by his efforts to obtain a nice gosling for his +next meal. At length, convinced of the fruitlessness +of his efforts, he flew off to seek some more +easily procurable food. Several crows sometimes +unite to plunder the goose of her young, and are +then generally successful, because they are able to +distract the attention of the parents, and lure them +farther from their young.</p> + +<p>In the summer the crows disperse in pairs, for the +purpose of raising their young, and then they select +lofty trees in the remotest parts of the forest, upon +which, with dry sticks and twigs, they build a large +strong nest, and line it with softer materials. They +lay four or five eggs, and, when they are hatched, +feed, attend, and watch over their young with the +most zealous devotion. Should any one by chance +pass near the nest while the eggs are still unhatched, +or the brood are very young, the parents keep close, +and neither by the slightest movement nor noise +betray their presence. But if the young are fledged, +and beginning to take their first lessons in flying, the +approach of a man, especially if armed with a gun, +calls forth all their cunning and solicitude. The +young are immediately placed in the securest place +at hand, where the foliage is thickest, and remain +perfectly motionless and quiet. Not so the alarmed +parents, both of which fly nearer and nearer to the +hunter, uttering the most discordant screams, with +an occasional peculiar note, which seems intended to +direct or warn their young. So close do they approach, +and so clamorous are they as the hunter +endeavours to get a good view of them on the tree, +that he is almost uniformly persuaded the young +crows are also concealed there; but he does not +perceive, as he is cautiously trying to get within +gun-shot, that they are moving from tree to tree, +and at each remove are farther and farther from the +place where the young are hid. After continuing +this trick until it is impossible that the hunter can +retain any idea of the situation of the young ones, +the parents cease their distressing outcries, fly quietly +to the most convenient lofty tree, and calmly watch +the movements of their disturber. Now and then +they utter a loud quick cry, which seems intended +to bid their offspring lie close and keep quiet, and it +is very generally the case that they escape all danger +by their obedience. An experienced crow-killer +watches eagerly for the tree where the crows first +start from; and if this can be observed, he pays no +attention to their clamours, nor pretence of throwing +themselves in his way, as he is satisfied they are +too vigilant to let him get a shot at them; and if he +can see the young, he is tolerably sure of them all, +because of their inability to fly or change place +readily.</p> + +<p>The time of the year in which the farmers suffer +most from them, is in the spring, before their enormous +congregations disperse, and when they are rendered +voracious by the scantiness of their winter +fare. Woe betide the corn-field which is not closely +watched, when the young grain begins to shoot above +the soil! If not well guarded, a host of these marauders +will settle upon it at the first light of the +dawn, and before the sun has risen far above the +horizon, will have plundered every shoot of the germinating +seed, by first drawing it skilfully from the +moist earth by the young stalk, and then swallowing +the grain. The negligent or careless planter, who +does not visit his fields before breakfast, finds, on his +arrival, that he must either replant his corn, or relinquish +hopes of a crop; and, without the exertion +of due vigilance, he may be obliged to repeat this +process twice or thrice the same season. Where the +crows go to rob a field in this way, they place one or +more sentinels, according to circumstances, in convenient +places; and these are exceedingly vigilant, uttering +a single warning call, which puts the whole +to flight the instant there is the least appearance of +danger or interruption. Having fixed their sentinels, +they begin regularly at one part of the field, and +pursuing the rows along, pulling up each shoot in +succession, and biting off the corn at the root. The +green shoots thus left along the rows, as if they had +been arranged with care, offer a melancholy memorial +of the work which has been effected by these cunning +and destructive plunderers.</p> + +<p>Numerous experiments have been made, where +the crows are thus injurious, to avert their ravages; +and the method I shall now relate I have seen tried +with the most gratifying success. In a large tub a +portion of tar and grease were mixed, so as to render +the tar sufficiently thin and soft, and to this was +added a portion of slacked lime in powder, and the +whole stirred until thoroughly incorporated. The +seed-corn was then thrown in, and stirred with the +mixture until each grain received a uniform coating. +The corn was then dropped in the hills, and covered +as usual. This treatment was found to retard the +germination about three days, as the mixture greatly +excludes moisture from the grain. But the crows did +no injury to the field: they pulled up a small quantity +in different parts of the planting, to satisfy themselves +it was all alike; upon becoming convinced of +which, they quietly left it for some less carefully +managed grounds, where pains had not been taken +to make all the corn so nauseous and bitter.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_XI" id="No_XI"></a>No. XI.</h2> + + +<p>It rarely happens that any of the works of +nature are wholly productive of evil; and even the +crows, troublesome as they are, contribute in a small +degree to the good of the district they frequent. +Thus, though they destroy eggs and young poultry, +plunder the corn-fields, and carry off whatever may +serve for food, they also rid the surface of the +earth of a considerable quantity of carrion, and +a vast multitude of insects and their destructive +larvæ. The crows are very usefully employed when +they alight upon newly-ploughed fields, and pick +up great numbers of those large and long-lived +worms which are so destructive to the roots of all +growing vegetables; and they are scarcely less so +when they follow the seine-haulers along the shores, +and pick up the small fishes, which would otherwise +be left to putrefy, and load the air with unpleasant +vapours. Nevertheless, they become far more numerous +in some parts of the country than is at all necessary +to the good of the inhabitants, and whoever +would devise a method of lessening their numbers +suddenly, would certainly be doing a service to the +community.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of a mile above the house I +lived in, on Curtis's creek, the shore was a sand-bank +or bluff, twenty or thirty feet high, crowned +with a dense young pine-forest to its very edge. +Almost directly opposite, the shore was flat, and +formed a point, extending, in the form of a broad +sand-bar, for a considerable distance into the water; +and, when the tide was low, this flat afforded a fine +level space, to which nothing could approach in +either direction without being easily seen. At a +short distance from the water, a young swamp-wood +of maple, gum, oaks, etc. extended back towards +some higher ground. As the sun descended, and +threw his last rays in one broad sheet of golden +effulgence over the crystal mirror of the waters, +innumerable companies of crows arrived daily, and +settled on this point, for the purpose of drinking, +picking up gravel, and uniting in one body prior to +retiring for the night to their accustomed dormitory. +The trees adjacent and all the shore would be literally +blackened by these plumed marauders, while +their increasing outcries, chattering, and screams, +were almost deafening. It certainly seems that they +derive great pleasure from their social habits; and I +often amused myself by thinking the uninterrupted +clatter which was kept up, as the different gangs +united with the main body, was produced by the +recital of the adventures they had encountered +during their last marauding excursions. As the +sun became entirely sunk below the horizon, the +grand flock crossed to the sand-bluff on the opposite +side, where they generally spent a few moments in +picking up a farther supply of gravel, and then, +arising in dense and ample column, they sought +their habitual roost in the deep entanglements of +the distant pines. This daily visit to the point, so +near to my dwelling, and so accessible by means of +the skiff, led me to hope that I should have considerable +success in destroying them. Full of such +anticipations, I loaded two guns, and proceeded in +my boat to the expected place of action, previous to +the arrival of the crows. My view was to have my +boat somewhere about half-way between the two +shores, and (as they never manifested much fear of +boats) to take my chance of firing upon the main +body as they were flying over my head to the opposite +side of the river. Shortly after I had gained +my station, the companies began to arrive, and +everything went on as usual. But whether they +suspected some mischief from seeing a boat so long +stationary in their vicinity, or could see and distinguish +the guns in the boat, I am unable to say: the +fact was, however, that when they set out to fly +over, they passed at an elevation which secured +them from my artillery effectually, although, on +ordinary occasions, they were in the habit of flying +over me at a height of not more than twenty or +thirty feet. I returned home without having had +a shot, but resolved to try if I could not succeed +better the next day. The same result followed the +experiment, and when I fired at one gang, which it +appeared possible to attain, the instant the gun was +discharged the crows made a sort of halt, descended +considerably, flying in circles, and screaming most +vociferously, as if in contempt or derision. Had I +been prepared for this, a few of them might have +suffered for their bravado. But my second gun was +in the bow of the boat, and before I could get to it +the black gentry had risen to their former security. +While we were sitting at tea that evening, a black +came to inform me that a considerable flock of +crows, which had arrived too late to join the great +flock, had pitched in the young pines, not a great +way from the house, and at a short distance from the +road-side. We quickly had the guns in readiness, +and I scarcely could restrain my impatience until it +should be late enough and dark enough to give us a +chance of success. Without thinking of anything +but the great number of the crows, and their inability +to fly to advantage in the night, my notions of +the numbers we should bring home were extravagant +enough, and I only regretted that we might be +obliged to leave some behind. At length, led by +the black boy, we sallied forth, and soon arrived in +the vicinity of this temporary and unusual roost; +and now the true character of the enterprise began +to appear. We were to leave the road, and penetrate +several hundred yards among the pines, whose +proximity to each other, and the difficulty of moving +between which, on account of the dead branches, has +been heretofore stated. Next, we had to be careful +not to alarm the crows before we were ready to act, +and at the same time were to advance with cocked +guns in our hands. The only way of moving forwards +at all, I found to be that of turning my +shoulders as much as possible to the dead branches, +and breaking my way as gently as I could. At last +we reached the trees upon which the crows were +roosting; but as the foliage of the young pines was +extremely dense, and the birds were full forty feet +above the ground, it was out of the question to distinguish +where the greatest number were situated. +Selecting the trees which appeared by the greater +darkness of their summits to be most heavily laden +with our game, my companion and I pulled our +triggers at the same moment. The report was followed +by considerable outcries from the crows, by a +heavy shower of pine twigs and leaves upon which +the shot had taken effect, and a deafening roar, +caused by the sudden rising on the wing of the +alarmed sleepers. <i>One</i> crow at length fell near me, +which was wounded too badly to fly or retain his +perch, and as the flock had gone entirely off, with +this one crow did I return, rather crest-fallen, from +my grand nocturnal expedition. This crow, however, +afforded me instructive employment and amusement, +during the next day, in the dissection of its +nerves and organs of sense; and I know not that I +ever derived more pleasure from any anatomical +examination, than I did from the dissection of its +internal ear. The extent and convolutions of its +semi-circular canals show how highly the sense of +hearing is perfected in these creatures; and those +who wish to be convinced of the truth of what we +have stated in relation to them, may still see this +identical crow skull in the Baltimore Museum, to +which I presented it after finishing the dissection. +At least, I saw it there a year or two since; though +I little thought, when employed in examining, or +even when I last saw it, that it would ever be the +subject of such a reference, "in a printed book."</p> + +<p>Not easily disheartened by preceding failures, I +next resolved to try to outwit the crows, and for +this purpose prepared a long line, to which a very +considerable number of lateral lines were tied, having +each a very small fish-hook at the end. Each +of these hooks was baited with a single grain of +corn, so cunningly put on, that it seemed impossible +that the grain could be taken up without the hook +being swallowed with it. About four o'clock, in order +to be in full time, I rowed up to the sandy point, +made fast my main line to a bush, and extending it +toward the water, pegged it down at the other end +securely in the sand. I next arranged all my baited +lines, and then, covering them all nicely with sand, +left nothing exposed but the bait. This done, I +scattered a quantity of corn all around, to render the +baits as little liable to suspicion as possible. After +taking a final view of the arrangement, which seemed +a very hopeful one, I pulled my boat gently homeward, +to wait the event of my solicitude for the capture +of the crows. As usual, they arrived in thousands, +blackened the sand beach, chattered, screamed, +and fluttered about in great glee, and finally sailed +over the creek and away to their roost, without having +left a solitary unfortunate to pay for having +meddled with my baited hooks. I jumped into the +skiff, and soon paid a visit to my unsuccessful snare. +The corn was all gone; the very hooks were all bare; +and it was evident that some other expedient must +be adopted before I could hope to succeed. Had I +caught but one or two <i>alive</i>, it was my intention to +have employed them to procure the destruction of +others, in a manner I shall hereafter describe.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="No_XII" id="No_XII"></a>No. XII.</h2> + + +<p>Had I succeeded in obtaining some living crows, +they were to be employed in the following manner: +After having made a sort of concealment of brushwood +within good gun-shot distance, the crows were +to be fastened by their wings on their backs between +two pegs, yet not so closely as to prevent them from +fluttering or struggling. The other crows, who are +always very inquisitive where their species is in any +trouble, were expected to light down near the captives, +and the latter would certainly seize the first +that came near enough with their claws, and hold on +pertinaciously. This would have produced fighting +and screaming in abundance, and the whole flock +might gradually be so drawn into the fray, as to +allow many opportunities of discharging the guns +upon them with full effect. This I have often observed—that +when a quarrel or fight took place in a +large flock or gang of crows (a circumstance by no +means infrequent), it seemed soon to extend to the +whole; and during the continuance of their anger +all the usual caution of their nature appeared to be +forgotten, allowing themselves at such times to be +approached closely; and, regardless of men, fire-arms, +or the fall of their companions, continuing +their wrangling with rancorous obstinacy. A +similar disposition may be produced among them +by catching a large owl, and tying it with a cord of +moderate length to the limb of a naked tree in a +neighbourhood frequented by the crows. The owl +is one of the few enemies which the crow has much +reason to dread, as it robs the nests of their young, +whenever they are left for the shortest time. Hence, +whenever crows discover an owl in the day-time, like +many other birds, they commence an attack upon it, +screaming most vociferously, and bringing together +all of their species within hearing. Once this clamour +has fairly begun, and their passions are fully +aroused, there is little danger of their being scared +away, and the chance of destroying them by shooting +is continued as long as the owl remains uninjured. +But one such opportunity presented during +my residence where crows were abundant, and this +was unfortunately spoiled by the eagerness of one of +the gunners, who, in his eagerness to demolish one +of the crows, fixed upon some that were most busy +with the owl, and killed it instead of its disturbers, +which at once ended the sport. When the crows +leave the roost, at early dawn, they generally fly to +a naked or leafless tree in the nearest field, and there +plume themselves and chatter until the day-light is +sufficiently clear to show all objects with distinctness. +Of this circumstance I have taken advantage +several times, to get good shots at them in this way. +During the day-time, having selected a spot within +proper distance of the tree frequented by them in +the morning, I have built with brushwood and pine-bushes +a thick, close screen, behind which one or two +persons might move securely without being observed. +Proper openings through which to level the guns +were also made, as the slightest stir or noise could +not be made, at the time of action, without a risk of +rendering all the preparations fruitless. The guns +were all in order and loaded before going to bed, and +at an hour or two before day-light we repaired quietly +to the field, and stationed ourselves behind the screen, +where, having mounted our guns at the loop-holes, to +be in perfect readiness, we waited patiently for the +day-break. Soon after the gray twilight of the dawn +began to displace the darkness, the voice of one of +our expected visitants would be heard from the distant +forest, and shortly after a single crow would +slowly sail towards the solitary tree, and settle on its +very summit. Presently a few more would arrive +singly, and in a little while small flocks followed. +Conversation among them is at first rather limited to +occasional salutations, but as the flock begins to grow +numerous, it becomes general and very animated, and +by this time all that may be expected on this occasion +have arrived. This may be known, also, by observing +one or more of them descend to the ground, and if +the gunners do not now make the best of the occasion, +it will soon be lost, as the whole gang will presently +sail off, scattering as they go. However, we +rarely waited till there was a danger of their departure, +but as soon as the flock had fairly arrived, and +were still crowded upon the upper parts of the tree, +we pulled triggers together, aiming at the thickest +of the throng. In this way, by killing and wounding +them, with two or three guns, a dozen or more +would be destroyed. It was of course needless to +expect to find a similar opportunity in the same place +for a long time afterwards, as those which escaped +had too good memories to return to so disastrous a +spot. By ascertaining other situations at considerable +distances, we could every now and then obtain +similar advantages over them.</p> + +<p>About the years 1800-1-2-3-4, the crows were +so vastly accumulated and destructive in the State +of Maryland, that the government, to hasten their +diminution, received their heads in payment of +taxes, at the price of three cents each. The store-keepers +bought them of the boys and shooters, who +had no taxes to pay, at a rather lower rate, or exchanged +powder and shot for them. This measure +caused a great havoc to be kept up among them, and +in a few years so much diminished the grievance, +that the price was withdrawn. Two modes of shooting +them in considerable numbers were followed, and +with great success: the one, that of killing them +while on the wing towards the roost; and the other, +attacking them in the night, when they have been +for some hours asleep. I have already mentioned +the regularity with which vast flocks move from +various quarters of the country to their roosting-places +every afternoon, and the uniformity of the +route they pursue. In cold weather, when all the +small bodies of water are frozen, and they are +obliged to protract their flight towards the bays or +sea, their return is a work of considerable labour, +especially should a strong wind blow against them: +at this season, also, being rather poorly fed, they are +of necessity less vigorous. Should the wind be adverse, +they fly as near the earth as possible, and of +this the shooters, at the time I allude to, took advantage. +A large number would collect on such an +afternoon, and station themselves close along the +foot-way of a high bank, over which the crows were +in the habit of flying; and as they were in a great +degree screened from sight as the flock flew over, +keeping as low as possible, because of the wind, their +shots were generally very effectual. The stronger +was the wind, the greater was their success. The +crows that were not injured found it very difficult to +rise, and those that diverged laterally only came +nearer to gunners stationed in expectation of such +movements. The flocks were several hours in passing +over; and as there was generally a considerable +interval between each company of considerable size, +the last arrived, unsuspicious of what had been going +on, and the shooters had time to recharge their arms. +But the grand harvest of crow heads was derived +from the invasion of their dormitories, which are +well worthy a particular description, and should be +visited by every one who wishes to form a proper +idea of the number of these birds that may be accumulated +in a single district. The roost is most +commonly the densest pine-thicket that can be found, +generally at no great distance from some river, bay, +or other sheet of water, which is the last to freeze, +or rarely is altogether frozen. To such a roost the +crows, which are, during the day-time, scattered +over perhaps more than a hundred miles of circumference, +wing their way every afternoon, and arrive +shortly after sunset. Endless columns pour in from +various quarters, and as they arrive pitch upon their +accustomed perches, crowding closely together for +the benefit of the warmth and the shelter afforded +by the thick foliage of the pine. The trees are +literally bent by their weight, and the ground is +covered for many feet in depth by their dung, +which, by its gradual fermentation, must also tend +to increase the warmth of the roost. Such roosts +are known to be thus occupied for years, beyond the +memory of individuals; and I know of one or two +which the oldest residents in the quarter state to +have been known to their grandfathers, and probably +had been resorted to by the crows during several +ages previous. There is one of great age and magnificent +extent in the vicinity of Rock Creek, an +arm of the Patapsco. They are sufficiently numerous +on the rivers opening into the Chesapeake, and +are everywhere similar in their general aspect. Wilson +has signalised such a roost at no great distance +from Bristol, Pa.; and I know by observation that +not less than a million of crows sleep there nightly +during the winter season.</p> + +<p>To gather crow heads from the roost, a very large +party was made up, proportioned to the extent of +surface occupied by the dormitory. Armed with +double-barrelled and duck guns, which threw a large +charge of shot, the company was divided into small +parties, and these took stations, selected during the +day-time, so as to surround the roost as nearly as +possible. A dark night was always preferred, as +the crows could not, when alarmed, fly far, and the +attack was delayed until full midnight. All being +at their posts, the firing was commenced by those +who were most advantageously posted, and followed +up successively by the others, as the affrighted crows +sought refuge in their vicinity. On every side the +carnage then raged fiercely, and there can scarcely +be conceived a more forcible idea of the horrors of a +battle, than such a scene afforded. The crows +screaming with fright and the pain of wounds; the +loud deep roar produced by the raising of their whole +number in the air; the incessant flashing and thundering +of the guns; and the shouts of their eager +destroyers, all produced an effect which can never +be forgotten by any one who has witnessed it, nor +can it well be adequately comprehended by those +who have not. Blinded by the blaze of the powder, +and bewildered by the thicker darkness that ensues, +the crows rise and settle again at a short distance, +without being able to withdraw from the field of +danger, and the sanguinary work is continued until +the shooters are fatigued, or the approach of day-light +gives the survivors a chance of escape. Then +the work of collecting the heads from the dead and +wounded began, and this was a task of considerable +difficulty, as the wounded used their utmost efforts +to conceal and defend themselves. The bill and +half the front of the skull were cut off together, +and strung in sums for the tax-gatherer, and the +product of the night divided according to the nature +of the party formed. Sometimes the great mass of +shooters were hired for the night, and received no +share of scalps, having their ammunition provided +by the employers: other parties were formed of +friends and neighbours, who clubbed for the ammunition, +and shared equally in the result.</p> + +<p>During hard winters the crows suffer greatly, and +perish in considerable numbers from hunger. When +starved severely, the poor wretches will swallow bits +of leather, rope, rags, in short, anything that appears +to promise the slightest relief. Multitudes belonging +to the Bristol roost perished during the winter of +1828-9 from this cause. All the water-courses were +solidly frozen, and it was distressing to observe these +starvelings every morning winging their weary way +towards the shores of the sea, in hopes of food, and +again toiling homewards in the afternoon, apparently +scarce able to fly.</p> + +<p>In speaking of destroying crows, we have never +adverted to the use of poison, which in their case is +wholly inadmissible, on this account—where crows +are common, hogs generally run at large, and to +poison the crows would equally poison them: the +crows would die, and fall to the ground, where they +would certainly be eaten by the hogs.</p> + +<p>Crows, when caught young, learn to talk plainly, +if pains be taken to repeat certain phrases to them, +and they become exceedingly impudent and troublesome. +Like all of their tribe, they will steal and +hide silver or other bright objects, of which they +can make no possible use.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<big><span class="smcap">John.</span><br /></big> +</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> "An Introductory Lecture delivered November 1st, +1830, by Thomas Sewall, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and +Physiology in the Columbian College, District of Columbia."</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Rambles of a Naturalist, by John D. Godman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST *** + +***** This file should be named 36304-h.htm or 36304-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/3/0/36304/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Anna Hall and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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