[Clark:]
Monday March 10th. 1806
about 1 P. M. it became fair and we sent out two parties
of hunters on this side of the Netul, one above and the other
below, we also directed a party to set out early in the morning
and pass Meriwethers Bay and hunt beyond the Kilhowanakkle.
from the last we have considerable hope, as we have
as yet hunted but little in that quarter. it blew hard all day,
in the evening the Indians departed. The Hunters, S. R. F.
& F. who were over the netul the other day informed us that
they measured a 2d tree of the fir speces (N°. 1) as high as a
a man could reach, was 39 feet in the girth; it tapered but
very little for about 200 feet without any considerable limbs,
and that it was a very lofty above the commencement of the
limbs. from the appearance of other species of fir, and their
account of this tree, I think it might safely [be] estimated at
300 feet, it had every appearance of being perfectly sound in
every part.
The brown Duck is much in form like the Duckinmallard,
tho' not much more than half it's size. the colour is one uniform
mixture of yellowish and dark brown. there is nothing
remarkable in the colour of this duck; it resorts the same kind
of grassy marshes with the Duckinmallard, and feeds in a similar
manner, on grass, seeds & roots. both these ducks are
common to the river for some distance above tide water as well
as below. The black Duck is about the size of the bluewinged
teel. their colour is a duskey black the breast and
belly somewhat lighter than the other parts, or a dark brown.
the legs stand longitudianally with the body, and the Bird
when on shore stands very erect. the legs and feet are of a
dark brown, the toes are four on each foot, a short one on the
heel and three long toes in front which are unconnected with
a web. the web is atached to each side of the several joints
of the toes, and divided by deep sinues at each joint, the web
assumeing in the intermediate part an elipticle figure. the
beak is about two inches long, streight, flated on the sides, and
tapering to a sharp point. the upper chap somewhat longest
and bears on its base at the joining of the head, a little conic
protuberance of a cartelagenous substance, being redish brown.
the beak is of a ivery white colour. the eye dark. these
ducks usially associate in large flocks, and are very noisey;
their note being a sharp shrill whistle. they are usially fat and
tolerably flavoured; and feed on moss and other vegitable productions
of the water. we did not meet with them untill we
reached tide water; I have noticed the same duck on maney
parts of the Ohio and Mississippi. the Gizzard and liver are
also remarkably large in this fowl. The Divers are the same
with those of the atlantic states. the smaller species has some
white feathers about the rump and no perceptable tail and is
very active and quick in its motion; the body is of a redish
brown. the beak sharp and somewhat curved like that of the
Pheasant the toes are not connected but web
d. like those
discribed of the black duck. The large species are about the
size of the teal &
c. the food of both those species is fish, and
their flesh is unfit for use.
The bluewinged teal are a very excellent duck, and are the
same with those of the Atlantic coast. There are some other
species of ducks which shall be hereafter describd. as I may
hereafter have an oppertunity of examening them.
