[Clark, July 30, 1804]
July the 30th Monday - Set out early & proceeded on West
33/4 mes. passd. one pt. to the L. S and one to the S. S. to
a Clear open Prarie on the L. S. which is on a rise of about
70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a prarie
covered with high grass Plumbs Grape Vine & Hezel-both
forming a Bluff to the River, the Lower Prarie is above high
water mark at the foot of the riseing ground & below the
High Bluff we came to in a grove of timber and formed a Camp
raised a flag Pole, and deturmind to waite for the Ottu
Indians- The white Horse which we found below Died last
night, after posting out the Guards &c. &. Sent out 4 men to
hunt I am ingaged in ____ and Drawing off my courses to
accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp, Capt. Lewis
and my Self walked in the Prarie on the top of the Bluff and
observed the most butifull prospects imagionable, this
Prarie is Covered with grass about 10 or 12 Inch high, (Land
rich) rises about 1/2 a mile back Something higher and is a
Plain as fur as Can be Seen, under those high Lands next the
river is butifull Bottom interspersed with Groves of timber,
the River may be Seen for a great Distance both above &
below meandering thro the plains between two ranges of High
land which appear to be from 4 to 20 ms. apart, each bend of
the river forming a point which Contains tall timber,
principally Willow Cotton wood some Mulberry elm Sycamore &
ash. the groves Contain walnit coffeenut & Oake in addition
& Hickory & Lynn Jo. Fields Killed Brarow or as the Ponie
call it Cho car tooch, this animale burrows in the ground &
feeds on Bugs and flesh principally the little Dogs of the
Prarie, also Something of Vegetable Kind his Shape & Size is
like that of a Beever, his head Mouth &c. is like a Dog with
its ears Cut off, his tale and hair like that of a Ground
hog Something longer and lighter, his interals like a Hogs,
his Skin thick & loose, white & hair Short under its belly,
of the Species of the Bear, and it has a white Streake from
its nose to its Sholders, the Toe nails of its fore feet
which is large is 1 Inch and 3/4 qtr. long and those of his
hind feet which is much Smaller is 3/4 long. We have this
animale Skined and Stuffed. Short legs, raseing himself just
above the ground when in motion Jo & R. fields Killed Som
Deer at a Distance and Came in for a horse to bring them in,
they have not returned this evening, a gred number of Swans
in a pond above L. S. to our Camp. Serjt. Floyd verry unwell
a bad Cold &c. Several men with Boils, great qts. of Catfish
G. D. Cought one Small Beever alive. Som Turkey & Gees
Killed to day. arms & all things in order. a fair evining,
and Cool.
[Clark, July 30, 1804]
July 30th Monday 1804 - Set out this morning early proceeded
on to a Clear open Prarie on the L. S. on a rise of about 70
feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prarie both
forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass & Plumb bush
Grapes &c. and Situated above high water is a Small Grove of
timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two
priraries, and below the Bluffs of the high Prarie we Came
too and formed a Camp, intending to waite the return of the
french man & Indians- the white horse which we found near
the Kanzeis River, Died Last night
posted out our guard and Sent out 4 men, Captn. Lewis & went
up the Bank and walked a Short Distance in the high Prarie.
this Prairie is covered with Grass of 10 or 12 inches in
hight. Soil of good quallity &, Still further back at the
Distance of about a mile the Countrey rises about 80 or 90
feet higher, and is one Continual Plain as fur as Can be
Seen, from the Bluff on the 2d rise imediately above our
Camp the most butifull prospect of the River up & Down and
the Countrey opsd. prosented it Self which I ever beheld;
The River meandering the open and butifull Plains,
interspursed with Groves of timber, and each point Covered
with Tall timber, Such as willow Cotton Sun Mulberry, Elm,
Sucamore, Lynn & ash (The Groves Contain Hickory, Walnut,
Coffeenut & Oake in addition)
Two ranges of High Land parrelel to each other and from 4 to
10 miles Distant between which the river & its bottoms are
Contained. (from 70 to 300 feet high)
Joseph Fields Killed and brought in an Anamale Called by the
French Brarow, and by the Ponies Cho car tooch this Anamale
Burrows in the Ground and feeds on Flesh, (Prarie Dogs),
Bugs, & vigatables- "His Shape & Size is like that of a
Beaver, his head mouth &c. is like a Dogs with Short Ears,
his Tail and Hair like that of a Ground Hog, and longer, and
lighter. his Interals like the interals of a Hog," his Skin
thick and loose, his Belly is White and the Hair Short- a
white Streek from his nose to his Sholders.
The toe nails of his fore feet is one Inch & 3/4 long, &
feet large; the nails of his hind feet 3/4 of an Inch long,
the hind feet Small and toes Crooked, his legs are Short and
when he Moves Just Suffcent to raise his body above the
Ground He is of the Bear Species. we hav his Skin Stuffed
Jo. & R. Fields did not return this evening, Several men
with Verry bad Boils- Cat fish is Cought in any part of the
river Turkeys Gees & a Beaver Killed & Cought every thing in
prime order men in high Spirits. a fair Still evening Great
no. misquitors this evening
[Lewis, July 30, 1804]
July the 30th - this day Joseph Fields killed a Braro as it
is called by the French engages. this is a singular anamal
not common to any part of the United States. it's weight is
sixteen pounds.- it is a carniverous anamal. on both sides
of the upper jaw is fexed one long and sharp canine
tooth.-it's eye are small black and piercing.
[Clark, July 31, 1804]
July 31st Tuesday - a fair Day 3 hunters out this morning G.
Drewyer Killed a verry fat Buck one Inch fat on the ribs
Merdn. altd Latd. is 41° 18' 0" 5/10-North. R & Jo. Fields
returned at 10 oClock the Killed 3 Deer, and lost the
horses, Cought a Small Beever which is already taim, Several
men out hunting the horses without Sukcess, The Ottoes not
yet arrived, I complete the Copy of the Courses &c. &c.
Musqueters verry troubleson
[Clark, July 31, 1804]
July 31st, Tuesday - a fair Day three Hunters out, Took
meridian altitude made the Lattd. 41° 18' 1" 5/10 N. R. &
Jo. Fields returned to Camp They Killed 3 Deer.- The Horses
Strayed off last night. Drewyer Killed a Buck one inch of
fat on the ribs, R. & Jo. Fields returned without any meet
haveing been in persuit of the horses- The Indians not yet
arrived. Cought a young Beever alive which is already quit
tame-. Cought a Buffalow fish- The evening verry Cool, The
Musqutors are yet troublesom.-
[Clark, August 1, 1804]
August the 1st 1804 - a fair morning, Sent out two men after
the horses & one back to examine if the Indians have been
there, ____ Beever Cought last night, the air is Cool and
pleasing
Prepared the Pipe of Peace verry flashey. wind rose at 10
oClock and blowed from the W. S. W. very pleasent all day
Several men geathering grapes &c. two men after the horses
which Strayed the night before last. those Praries produce
the Blue Current Common in the U. S. the Goose Berry Common
in the U. S, two Kind of Honeysuckle, the Bush which I have
Seen in Kentucky, with a paile Pink flower, also one which
grow in Clusters about 4 or 5 feet high bearing a Short
flour in clusters of the like Colour. the leaves Single. 3
Deer & an Elk Killed to day. This being my birth day I
order'd a Saddle of fat Vennison, an Elk fleece & a
Bevertail to be cooked and a Desert of Cheries, Plumbs,
Raspberries Currents and grapes of a Supr. quallity. The
Indians not yet arrived. a Cool fine eveninge Musquetors
verry troublesom, the Praries Contain Cheres, Apple, Grapes,
Currents, Rasp burry, Gooseberris Hastlenuts and a great
Variety of Plants & flours not Common to the U S. What a
field for a Botents and a natirless
[Clark, August 1, 1804]
August the 1st 1804 - a fair morning Despatched two men
after the horses lost yesterday, one man back to the place
from which the messinger was Sent for the Ottoes to See if
any Indians was or had been there Since our deptr. he
return'd and informed that no person had been there Sence we
left it. The Prarie which is Situated below our Camp is
above the high water leavel and rich Covered with Grass from
5 to 8 feet high intersperced with Copse of Hazel, Plumbs,
Currents (like those of the U.S.) Rasberries & Grapes of
Dift. Kinds. also produceing a Variety of Plants and flowers
not Common in the United States, two Kind of honey Suckle
one which grows to a kind of a Srub. Common about Harrods
burgh in Kentucky the other are not So large or tall and
bears a flower in Clusters Short and of a light Pink Colour,
the leaves differ from any of the othe Kind in as much as
the Lieves are Distinkd & does not Surround the Stalk as all
the other Kind does one Elk and three Deer Killed to day
also two Beever Cought
The wind rose at 10 oClock from the W. S. W. and blew a
Steedy and agreeable Breeze all Day.
The Musqutors verry troublesom this evening in the bottoms.
Took equal altitudes to day and the azmuth with the
Commencement of the A.M.
[Clark, August 2, 1804]
August 2nd 1804 - wind from the SE G. Drewery returned with
the horses & one Doe Elk the countrey thro which he passed
is like what we See from the Bluff above Camp three men out
Hunting one Beaver caught this morning.
at Sunset 6 chiefs and their warries of the Ottos, and
Missoures, with a french man by the name of Far fonge, we
Shook hands and gave them Some Tobacco & Provisions, they
Sent us Water Millions Three verry large & fat Bucks Killed
to day the wind Continue hard from the S. E.-the 4 qtr. of
one Buck weigh'd 147 wt 11/2 Inch fat on the ribs
[Clark, August 2, 1804]
August 2nd Thursday 1804 - A verry pleasent Breeze from the
S. E. The Two men Drewyer & Colter returned with the horses
loaded with Elk, those horses they found about 12 miles in a
Southerly Derection from Camp.
The Countrey thro which they passed is Similar to what we
See from Camp. one Beaver & a foot of Beaver caught in trap
Cought this morning at Sunset Mr. Fairfong and a pt. of
Otteau & Missourie Nation Came to Camp, among those Indians
6 were Chiefs, the principal Chiefs Capt. Lewis & myself met
those Indians & informed them we were glad to See them, and
would Speak to them tomorrow, Sent them Som rosted meat Pork
flour & meal, in return they Sent us Water millions. every
man on his Guard & ready for any thing Three fat Bucks
Killed this evening the 4 qtrs. of one weighed 147 lbs.
[Lewis, August 2, 1804]
August 2ed 1804. - This day one of our Hunters brought me a
white Heron. this bird as an inhabitant of ponds and
Marasses, and feeds upon tadpoles, frogs, small fish &c-
they are common to the Mississipi and the lower part of the
ohio River, (ie) as high as the falls of that river.
this bird weighed two lbs.- it's plumage is perfectly white
and very thin
F I. from extremity of beak to the extremity of toe 4 71/4
from tipp to tip of wing on the back 4 11
it's beak is yellow pointed, flated crosswise and 5 Inches
in length from the upper region of the bill to the eye is
one inch in length, covered with a smoth yellow skin the
plumage of the head projecting towards the upper bill and
coming to a point a an Inch beyond the eyes on the center of
the upper bill. The mouth opens to distance of the eyes- The
eye is full and projecting reather, it is 7/10 of half an
inch. four joints in the wing
Inches
1st joint from body in length - 6
2ed Do. - 81/4
3rd Do. - 31/2
4th Do. - 1
1st joint Number of feathers - 7; Length of - 3
2nd - 18; 6
3 - 6; from 10 to 12
4th - 5; 12
it's legs are black- the neck and beak occupy 1/2 it's
length. it has four toes on a foot- the outer toe on the
right foot is from the joining of the leg to extremity of
toe nale 4 Inch & 1/4 has four joints exclusive of the nail
joint- the next is 43/4 inches has three joints exclusive of
the nale joint. the next is 33/4 and has two joints, the
heel toe has one joint only and is 3 Inches in length. the
nails are long sharp and black- the eye is of a deep
seagreen colour, with a circle of of pale yellow around the
sight forming a border to the outer part of the eye of about
half the width of the whole eye. the tale has 12 feathers of
six inches in length.- the wings when folded are the same
length with the tale.
has 2 remarkable tufts of long feathers on each side joining
the body at the upper joint of the wing. these cover the
feathers of the 1st joint of the wings when they are over
extended
[Clark, August 3, 1804]
August 3rd Friday - prepare a Small preasent for those
Indians and hold a Councul Delivered a Speech & made 8 6
chief ... gave a fiew preasents and, a Smoke a Dram, Some
Powder & Ball- the man we Sent not yet come up, Those people
express great Satisfaction at the Speech Delivered they are
no Oreters, big, open Counternances, ottoes large Missor
Small
at 4 oClock Set out under a gentle Breeze from the S. E
proceeded on N. 5° E 5 Ms. Passed a Pt. on the S. S. and
round a large Sand bar on the L. S. and Camped above, below
a great number of Snags quit across the river, The
Musquitors more numerous than I ever Saw them, all in
Spirrits, we had Some rough Convasation G. Dr. about boys.
The Osage & Kansies are the Same language
the Ottoes & Mahars Speek many words of the Osarge language
The Ottos, Aiaways, & Missouries Speake the Same language
the Panies & Recreries Speak the Same language also the
Loups & repub. the Mahar, & Poncarar the Same Language The
Cheaun, Mandin & Grovanter the Same The Probibility is that
those defferant tribes have once formed 3 great nats. Viz:
the Missouries, Osarge, Kanzes, Ottoes, Mahars, & Poncaras &
Aiauaies one nation.
The Panies, Loups, Republican, Recrerees the 2nd
The Mandans Cheeons, & Grovanters the 3rd The tribes of the
Soux all retain the name 4th
It is possible that the, Mahar & Poncarear may have been a
Distinct nation, as they only Speek Some words of the osage
which have the Same Signification 25 Days to St Ta fee S. of
W. Cross the heads of Arkansies around the head of Kanzies
River after Delivering a Speech informing thos Children of
ours of the Change which had taken place, the wishes of our
government to Cultivate friendship & good understanding, the
method of have good advice & Some Directions, we made 1
Great Chief to the who was not present, to whom we adresed
the Speech & Sent Some presents or Meadels & flag, we made 2
Second Chiefs one for the Missouris & another for the Ottos
(those two tribes are nearly equal 1'70 each) and 4
principal men, to thos principal men to thos we gave a Small
Comtn. to each man to whom we gave authority, a preasn of
Br. Ch. Gart. g. Paint & a med. or Contn a Small Corns. was
delivered for the whole each Chief & principal man delivered
a Speech acknowledging ther approbation to what they had
heard and promised to prosue the good advice and Caustion,
they were happy w new fathers who gave good advice & to be
Depended on all Concluded by asking a little Powder & a Drop
of Milk.
I answered those Speeches gave them 50 balls one Canister of
Powder & a Dram- after Cap Lewis Shot his air gun a few
times which astonished the nativs, we Set Sail. recved from
thos people water millions & The Cheifs & Principal men of
the Ottoes & Missouris made by M L. & W C the 3rd August
1804
| Viz. | Indian Names | Tribe | English Signifiation |
| 1. | We-ar-ruge-nor | Ottoe | Little Thief |
| 2. | Shingo-ton go | Otto | Big horse |
| We tha a | Missourie | Hospatallity | |
| 3. | Wau-pe-ur | Miss. | |
| Au-ho-ning ga | M | ||
| Ba Za con ja | Ottoe | ||
| Au-ho-ne-ga | Miss. |
from this place I am told by
Mr. Faufong the interpeter that it will take
a man 25 Days to go to St. a fee pass, the
heads of Arkansas, round the Kansas head,
across Some mountains from the top of which
the City may be Seen the Spaniards have
envited those Indians & the Panies to trade
with them & Some french & a few indians are
gorn from the Panias to that City this
Summer-
The Situation of this place which we Call
Council Bluff which is handsom ellevated a
Spot well Calculated for a Tradeing
establishment, the Bank high & leavel on top
well Calculated for a fort to Command the
Countrey and river the low bottom above high
water & well Situated under the Command of
the Hill for Houses to trade with the
Natives a butifull Plain both abov and below
at no other bend on either Side does the
High land touch the river for Some distance
up, as I am told.
those Bluffs afford good Clay for Brick, a
great quantity on the 3 points one Opsd. one
abov &one below.- the Situation I am
informed is, within 1 Days march of the
Ottoes, 11/2 of the Panias, 2 of the Mahars,
& 21/2 of the Loups Villages, also
Convenient to the roveing Bands of Soux,
Those people are now at war with each other,
an establishment here would bring about
peace and be the means of Keeping of it.
Augt. 3d Camped on the upper point of a
large Sand bar L. S. Misquters verry bad.
Some place near Conncill Bluff will be the
most proper place for a tradeing
establishment, for maney of the nations, the
distance is to the Ottoes one Days, Ponies
11/2 days, to the Mahar, 2 days, to Loups 2
Days & a half 16 or 1800 men-and convenient
for Some bands of the Sues,
[Clark, August 3, 1804]
August 3rd, Friday 1804 made up a Small
preasent for those people in perpotion to
their Consiqunce. also a package with a
meadile to accompany a Speech for the Grand
Chief after Brackfast we Collected those
Indians under an orning of our Main Sail, in
presence of our Party paraded & Delivered a
long Speech to them expressive of our
journey the wirkes of our Government, Some
advice to them and Directions how They were
to Conduct themselves, the princapal Chief
for the nation being absente we sent him the
Speech flag Meadel & Some Cloathes. after
hering what they had to say Delivered a
medal of Second Grade to one for the Ottos &
and one for the Missourie present and 4
medals of a third Grade to the inferior
Chief two for each tribe. Those two parts of
nations, Ottos & Missouries now residing
together is about 250 men are the Ottoes
Composeing 2/3d and Missourie 1/3 part
The names of the Chiefs we acknowledged Made
this day are as follows Viz
| Indian name | Tribe | English signftn. | |
| 1st | We ar ruge nor | Ottoe | Called Little Theif |
| 2 | Shon go ton go | " " | Big Horse |
| We the a | Miss. | Hospatality | |
| Shon Guss Con | Ottoe | White horse | |
| Wau pe uh | M. | ||
| Ah ho ning ga | M. | ||
| Baza cou ja | Ottoe | ||
| Ah ho ne ga | M. |
Those Chiefs all Delivered a
Speech acknowledgeing Their approbation to
the Speech and promissing to prosue the
advice & Derictions given them that they wer
happy to find that they had fathers which
might be depended on &c.
We gave them a Cannister of Powder and a
Bottle of whiskey and delivered a few
presents to the whole after giveing a Br.
Cth. Some Paint guartering & a Meadele to
those we made Cheifs after Capt Lewis's
Shooting the air gun a feiw Shots (which
astonished those nativs) we Set out and
proceeded on five miles on a Direct line
passed a point on the S. S. & round a large
Sand bar on the L. S. & Camped on the upper
point. The Misquitors excessively troublesom
this evening Great appearance of wind and
rain to the N. W. we prepare to rec've it-
The man Liberty whome we Sent for the Ottoes
has not Come up he left the Ottoes Town one
Day before the Indians. This man has
eithered tired his horse or, lost himself in
the Plains Some Indians are to hunt for him,
The Situation of our last Camp Councill
Bluff or Handssom Prarie appears to be a
verry proper place for a Tradeing
establishment & fortification The Soil of
the Bluff well adapted for Brick, Great deel
of timbers abov in the two Points. many
other advantages of a Small nature. and I am
told Senteral to Several nations Viz. one
Days march from the Ottoe Town, one Day & a
half from the great Pania village, 2 days
from the Mahar Towns, two 1/4 Days from the
Loups Village, & Convenient to the Countrey
thro which Bands of the Soux hunt. perhaps
no other Situation is as well Calculated for
a Tradeing establishment. The air is pure
and helthy So far as we can judge.-
[Clark, August 4, 1804]
August 4th at 7 oClock - the heavens
darkened and a violent wind from the N W.
Suckceeded which lasted about an hour, with
a little rain.
Set out this morning early thro a narrow
part of the, the whole Channel Confined in
Some parts between the (1) Sand on one Side
& the bank on the other (which is washing
in) within 200 yards, this Chanl. Crouded
with Snags. at 11/2 m. passed an old
tradeing house L. S. where one of our Crew
passed 2 years P. C tradeing with the Mahar;
& Ponies-above 1 me. a (3) Creek Coms in
opsd. a large bad (2) Sand bar this (3)
Creek is the outlett of 3 ponds, which
recved ther water from the Smaller Streams
running from the hills on the L. S, Great
qts. of Gees, passed in the next bend L. S.
an out let to the Pond, Butifull bottom
Prarie on both Sides of the river, Pumey
Stone is found on the Sides of the river of
various Sizes. Wind a head. Reed the man who
went back to the Camp of last night for his
Knife has not Come up this evening-we Camped
at a pt. on the L. S. at a Beaver house. 1
Buck Killed to daye.
[Clark, August 4, 1804]
August 4th Satturdaye - Set out early- (at 7
oClock last night we had a Violent wind from
the N W Som little rain Succeeded, the wind
lasted with violence for one hour after the
wind it was clear Sereen and Cool all
night.) proceeded on passed thro betwen
Snags which was quit across the Rivr the
Channel Confined within 200 yards one Side a
Sand pt. S S. the other a Bend, the Banks
washing away & trees falling in constantly
for 1 mile, abov this place is the remains
of an old Tradeing establishment L. S. where
Petr. Crusett one of our hands Stayed two
years & traded with the Mahars a Short
distance above is a Creek (3) the out let of
Three Ponds comunicateing with each other,
those Ponds or rether Lakes are fed by
Springs & Small runs from the hills. (2) a
large Sand Island opposit this Creek makeing
out from the L. Point, from the Camp of last
night to this Creek, the river has latterly
Changed its bed incroaching on the L. Side,
in this Sand bar I Saw great Nos. of wild
gees- passed a Small Creek on the L. S about
3 miles above the last both of those Creek's
are out lets from the Small Lake which reive
their water from the Small Streems running
from the high land- great many Pamey Stones
on the Shore of various Sises the wind blew
hard- Reed a man who went back to Camp for
his knife has not joined us. we camped at a
Beaver house on the L. S.one Buck Killed to
day-
[Clark, August 5, 1804]
August 5th - Set out early wind from N E.
Great appearance of Wind & rain, (I have
remarked that I have not heard much thunder
in this Countrey) a verry large Snake was
Killed to day called the Bull Snake, his
Colour Some thing like a rattle Snake
Something lighter- the bends of the river to
day is washing away the banks, haveing
nothing to oppose the turbelance of the
river when Confined by large hard Sand
Points, forceing this Current against the
bends- the Soil of the entire bottom between
the high land, being the mud or Ooze of the
river of Some former period mixed with Sand
& Clay easely melts and Slips, or washies
into the river the mud mixes with the water
& the Sand collects on the points Camped on
the S. S.- I went on Shore S. S. this
evening Saw Some turkeys and in persueing
them Struk the river 12 miles below the
place by water I went out, I think the
Peninsuly is about 370 yards across Subjuct
to overflow; & washes into numerous
Channels, Great quantities of Graps ripe &
of three Defferent Kind Some large & fine. I
Killed a Turkey, and made Camp in the Night,
Musqutors verry troubleson- Reed the man who
went back for his Knife has not yet joined
us
[Clark, August 5, 1804]
5th of August Sunday 1804 - Set out early
great appearance of wind and rain (I have
observed that Thundor & lightning is not as
common in this Countrey as it is in the
atlantic States) Snakes are not plenty, one
was killed to day large and resembling the
rattle Snake only Something lighter-. I
walked on Shore this evening S. S. in
Pursueing Some Turkeys I struck the river
twelve miles below within 370 yards, the
high water passes thro this Peninsulia; and
agreeable to the Customary Changes of the
river I Concld. that in two years the main
Current of the river will pass through. In
every bend the banks are falling in from the
Current being thrown against those bends by
the Sand points which inlarges and the Soil
I believe from unquestionable appearns. of
the entire bottom from one hill to the other
being the mud or ooze of the River at Some
former Period mixed with Sand and Clay
easily melts and Slips into the River, and
the mud mixes with the water & the Sand is
washed down and lodges on the points- Great
quantites of Grapes on the banks, I observe
three different Kinds at this time ripe, one
Of the no. is large & has the flaver of the
Purple grape. camped on the S. S. the
Musquitors verry troubleson. The man who
went back after his Knife has not yet come
up, we have Some reasons to believe he has
Deserted
[Lewis, August 5, 1804]
August 5th 1804 - Killed a serpent on the
bank of the river adjoining a large prarie.
F Inch
Length from nose to tail 5 2
Circumpherence in largest part- 41/2
Number of scuta on belly- 221
Do. on Tale- 53
No pison teeth therefore think him perfectly
inocent- eyes, center black with a border of
pale brown yellow Colour of skin on head
yellowish green with black specks on the
extremity of the scuta which are pointed or
triangular colour of back, transverse
stripes of black and dark brown of an inch
in width, succeeded by a yellowish brown of
half that width the end of the tale hard and
pointed like a cock's spur the sides are
speckled with yellowish brown and black.-
two roes of black spots on a lite yellow
ground pass throughout his whole length on
the upper points of the scuta of the belly
and tale 1/2 Inch apart this snake is
vulgarly called the cow or bull snake from a
bellowing nois which it is said sometimes to
make resembling that anamal, tho as to this
fact I am unable to attest it never having
heard them make that or any other noise
myself.
I have frequently observed an acquatic bird
in the cours of asscending this river but
have never been able to procure one before
today, this day I was so fortunate as to
kill two of them, they are here more plenty
than on the river below. they lay their eggs
on the sand bars without shelter or nest,
and produce their young from the 15th to the
last of June, the young ones of which we
caught several are covered with down of a
yellowish white colour and on the back some
small specks of a dark brown. they bear a
great resemblance to the young quale of ten
days oald, and apear like them to be able to
runabout and peck their food as soon as they
are hatched- this bird, lives on small fish,
worms and bugs which it takes on the virge
of the water it is seldom seen to light on
trees an quite as seldom do they lite in the
water and swim tho the foot would indicate
that they did it's being webbed I believe
them to be a native of this country and
probly a constant resident.
the weight of the male bird is one ounce and
a half, its length from beak to toe 71/2
inches from tip to tip of wing across the
back one foot seven inches and a half the
beak is one 1/8 inch lonong, large where it
joins the head Elated on the sides and
tapering to a sharp point, a little
declining and curvated, a fine yellow, with
a shade of black on the extremity of upper
beak; the eye is prominent, black and on a
angular scale of 1/2 Inc; occupyse 3 1/3 in
width. the upper part of the head is black
from the beak as low as the middle of the
eye and a little below the joining of the
neck except however some white which joins
the upper part of the beak which forks and
passing over the sides of the forehead
terminate above each eye- the under part of
the bird, that is the throat and cheeks as
high as the eye, the neck brest belly and
under part of the wings and tail are of a
fine white, the upper part of the neck,
back, and wings are of a fine, quaker colour,
or bright dove colour with reather more of a
bluish tint-except however the three first
or larger feathers in the wing which on
upper side are of a deep black. the wing has
four joints
| No. Joint | Length of joint | No. of feathers | Length of do. |
| 1 | 11/2 | a Clump of feathers not strong but loosly connect with the flesh of the wing | 11/2 |
| 2 | 2 | 16 | 2 |
| 3 | 11/2 | 7 | from 21/2 to 41/2 |
| 4 | 3/4 | 3 | 51/2 |
the tail has eleven feathers the outer of which are an inch longer than those in the center gradually tapering inwards which gives the tale a forked appearance like that of the swally the largest or outer feather is 23/4 that of the shortest 13/4- the leg and thye are three inches long the leg occupying one half this length the thye is covered with feathers except about 1/4 of an inch above the knee the leg is of a bright yellow and nails long sharp and black the foot is webbed and has three toes forward; the heel or back toe is fixed to the leg above the palm of the foot, and is unconnected by a web to the other toes, it has no nail. the wings when foalded lap like those of the swallow and extend at least an inch and a half beyond the tale. this bird is very noysey when flying which is dose exttreemly swift the motion of the wing is much like that of kildee it has two notes one like the squaking of a small pig only on reather a high kee, and the other kit'-tee'-kit'-tee'- as near as letters can express the sound- the beak of the female is black and the black and quaker colour of the male in her is yellowish brown mixed with dove colour
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The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806