p. 34

-34-
1828.

thickly scattered over the surface. The alder covers those which contain the most water--and we also observed a species of wild rose growing with the alder. The soil is composed of everywhere of a yellow clay covered with a layer of vegetable mold, to the depth of five or six inches.

On a little ridge which bounds one of the largest of these ponds, above mentioned, I observed several chestnut trees (Castaenea Vesca B. Americana) the existence of which so near us I had not before suspected.

Numerous hogs (Sus scrofa) are turned loose in these woods which keep fat all winter on the hickory nuts and beach nuts. Which they find in great plenty, they have become very wild.

We saw the crow (Corvus corons), ducks (Anas baschas), the kingfisher (Alcedo alcyon), two or three species of woodpeckers (Picus), pigeons (Columba migratoria) and a great many species of smaller birds which were (as it was a fine day for them) seen in great numbers flying about in every direction from bush to bush enlivening the lonely woods with their sweet melodious music.

The flowers of the red maple (Acer rubrum) and the leaves of the Elder (Sambucus) and Blackberry (Rhubus vlossus) have already made their appearance,-the heavy frost last night must have been very injurious to them for saw a great number of the flowers of the red maple lying on the ground.

March 5.*** Drew a map of the land we have examined, commenced reading Eaton's Geological Survey of the Erie Canal.

Louisville is now a city.

March 7. My birthday:: Seventeen years old to day, heigh-ho: After taking seventeen severe beatings I did some writing in Mr. Henry's