University of Virginia Library

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284

[Lewis]

Monday July 29th. 1805.

This morning some of the hunters turned out and returned
in a few hours with four fat bucks, the venison is now very
fine we have killed no mule deer since we lay here, they are
all of the longtailed red deer which appear qu[i]te as large as
those of the United States. the hunters brought in a living
young sandhill crain; it has nearly obtained it's growth but
cannot fly; they had pursued it and caught it in the meadows.
it's colour is precisely that of the red deer. we see a number
of the old or full grown crains of this species feeding in these
meadows. this young animal is very f[i]erce and strikes a
severe blow with his beak; after amusing myself with it I had
it set at liberty and it moved off apparently much pleased with
being releived from his captivity. the men have been busily
engaged all day in dising [dressing] skins and making them
into various garments all are leather dressers and taylors. we
see a great abundance of fish in the stream some of which we
take to be trout but they will not bite at any bate we can offer
them. the King fisher is common on the river since we have
left the falls of the Missouri. we have not seen the summer
duck since we left that place, nor do I believe that it is an inhabitant
of the Rocky mountains. the Duckanmallard were
first seen with their young on the 20th. inst. and I forgot to note
it; they are now abundant with their young but do not breed
in the missouri below the mountains. the grasshopers and
crickets are abundant in the plains as are also the small birds
frequently mentioned. there is also in these plains a large
ant with a redish brown body and legs, and a black head and
abdomen; they construct little perimids of small gravel in a
conic shape, about 10 or 12 inches high without a mixture of
sticks and with but little earth. Capt. Clark is much better
today, is perfectly clear of fever but still very languid and
complains of a general soarness in all his limbs. I prevailed
on him to take the barks which he has done and eate tolerably
freely of our good venison.

Today I continued my observations. ☉'s. magnetic Azimuth.

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285

Observed Equal Altitudes of the Sun with Sextant.

Observed time and Distance of ☉'s. and D's. nearest Limbs with
Sextant. ☉West.

Observed Magnetic Azimuth of the Sun.

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286

Observed time and Distance of D's Western limb from a Antares, with
Sextant * East.

Observed the Azimuth of the Pole Star.