Art. XVI. A Journal of the Progress of Vegetation near Philadelphia.
Art. XVI. A Journal of the Progress of Vegetation near Philadelphia between the 20th of February and the 20th of May, 1816, with occasional Zoological Remarks. By C. S. Rafinesque.
The importance of observations on the annual progress of vegetation is obvious, and, as connected with agriculture, gardening, &c., eminently useful. Comparative observations acquire a particular degree of interest, when made by skilful observers, at the same time, but at different places. Dr. Bigelow, of Boston, issued a circular, proposing that such contemporaneous observations should be made in the spring of 1817; and I wish that his request may have been attended to, when the collection of those observations may afford valuable materials for an American Calendar of Flora. The blossoming of plants is easily watched, but their foliation and budding ought not to be neglected. Having been prevented, by various causes, from keeping an exact record of the progress of vegetation near New-York in 1817, I submit an accurate journal which I had kept the year before, at Philadelphia, in which I hope that some interesting facts may be noticed. Dr. Benjamin Barton has published a sketch of a Calendar of Flora for Philadelphia, in his Fragments on the Natural History of Pennsylvania; by comparing it with mine, many material differences may be traced, which evince a gradual change of temperature, although the spring of 1816 was remarkably cold and late. The greater quantity of species observed by me may, besides, render this journal a sort of vernal Flora of the neighbourhood of Philadelphia; and many species found by me are not to be met in the Flora Philadelphica of Dr. William Barton.
February 20. The Hyacinthus orientalis begins to show its flowers, and on the
24. In full blossom, as well as Convallaria majalis, in rooms.
25. The grass begins to look greenish in some parts.
26. Seen the first larva of insect in a pond.
27. The Motacilla sialis, or bluebird, is heard for the first time.
28. The first shad (Clupea sapidissima) is taken in the Delaware, while on the same day, the first smelt (Salmo eperlanoides) was taken in the Raritan, at New-Brunswick.
March 1. The Tulipa gesneriana, and Hesperis matronalis, are in blossom at the windows: the suckers (genus Catostomus) appear in the fish-market.
2. The catkins of the Alnus serrulatus begin to swell.
3. Those of Salix Caprea begin to appear.
4. The grass looks green by patches in the country.
5. The leaves of Veronica officinalis, Plantago virginiana, Saxifraga virginica, &c. are quite unfolded.
6. The new leaves of Kalmia latifolia begin to appear.
7. The spathas of Spathyema fetida, or Fothos fetida, begin to appear in blossom.
8. The Alnus serrulatus is in full blossom.
10. Found several mosses and ferns in blossom; these last were covered with capsules or old fructification: they were Asplenium ebeneum, Aspidium marginale, Asp. acrostichoides, Polypodium medium, N. Sp., &c.
11. Seen the first spider, in the country, brown, oblong, walking. A fall of snow at night.
12. Seen in blossom, at the windows, Narcissus tazzetta, N. janguilla, and several saffrons, genus Crocus, &c.
14. The grass looks quite green; the Draba verna? is in blossom in the State-House garden, the Viburnum tinus, Primula acaulis, &c. in the rooms, &c. The following fish are at market: white perch, (Perca mucronata, Raf.) yellow perch, (Polyprion fasciatum, Raf.) mamoose sturgeon, (Accipenser marginatur, Raf.) elk-oldwives, (Sparus crythrops, Raf.) &c.
15. The Populus fastigiata, Lombardy poplar, begins to show its catkins.
17. The big-eye herring (Clupea megalops) begin to be seen at the fish-market.
18. Many plants begin to grow and show their leaves.
19. A fall of snow. The first shad (Clupea sapidissima) appear in New-York: they are now common here.
20. Crocus aureus in blossom in gardens; likewise Iris persica, &c.
21. Betula lenta begin to show the catkins.
22. Galanthus nivalis, and Lamium amplexicaule, are in blossom in gardens at Cambden.
24. Populus fastigiata, and Salix caprea, are in full bloom.—The gooseberry bushes shoot their leaves.
25. Populus angulata in blossom at Cambden.
26. Salix babylonica begins to blossom and shoot the leaves. Viburnum prunifolium is budding.
27. Draba verna? is in seed already in Cambden: the Rhododendron maximum begins to shoot in gardens.
28. Juniperus virginiana is in bloom. Saxifraga virginica begins to show its flowers. Laurus benzoin, and Cornus florida, are budding.
April 1. In the morning, a large flight of wild geese went over the city northwards, making a great noise. In the afternoon there was a thunder storm from the southwest.
2. The frogs begin to croak. Found in blossom near Cambden, Arabis rotundifolia, Raf., A. lyrata, Saxifraga virginica, Draba verna? Betula lenta, &c. Pinus inops is budding.
3. Seen the first swallow. Found in blossom on the Schuylkill, Fumaria cucullaria, Anemone thalictroides, Saxifraga virginica, many ferns and mosses.
4. The fresh-water turtle (Testudo picta) begins to show itself.
7. Found in blossom to-day, Hepatica triloba, Laurus benzoin, Sanguinaria canadensis, Spathyema fetida, Acer rubrum, &c. The first bee is seen.
10. In blossom at the woodlands, Viola blanda, Luzula filamentosa, Raf., Gnaphalium? plantageneum, &c.
12. In blossom at Cambden, Viola lanceolata, and Houstonia cerulea.
14. The apricot-trees begin to blossom in gardens. Acernegundo is in bloom at Gray's Ferry.
15. Seen the first butterfly—it was small and gray. Found in blossom, near Cambden, Phlox subulata, Arabis parviflora, Raf., and Vaccinium ligustrinum.
18. Seen in blossom, Epigea repens, Carex acuta, and Taraxacum dens-leonis. In gardens, the peach and cherry trees are in bloom. Observed many insects. The Camellia, the Magnolia chinensis, &c. are seen in the hot-house of the Woodlands.
20. The first snake is seen, Coluber trivittata, Raf. Also a beautiful large butterfly, red and black. The Salix vitellina, and Capsella bursa. (Thlaspi bursa-pastoris,) are in blossom.
21. Found in blossom, near Gray's Ferry, Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, and Sedum ternatum, both naturalized. Likewise the Populus tremuloides, and Mespelus canadensis. The leaves of Podophyllum pettatum are fully expanded.
23. Seen in full bloom in gardens, the pear-tree, plum-tree, Riber grossularia, and R. rubrum.
24. Found in blossom along the Schuylkill, Aguilegia canadensis, Hyacinthus botryoides, Ranunculus fascicularis, Violapapilionacea. V. decumbens, Raf., Houstonia cerulea, Cerastium pumilum, Raf.
25. Found in blossom near Cambden, Viola pedata, V. lanceolata, V. ovata, Raf., V. primulifolia, Arabis parviflora, Raf., Cerastium pumilum, Raf., Carex acuta, Meopilus botryapium, Laurus sassafras, Cercis canadensis, Potentilla simplex, Andromeda racemoca.
28. Seen in blossom in gardens, Calycanthus floridus, Syringa persica, Phlox pilosa, &c. The leaves of Liriodendron tulipifera, Æsculus hippocastanum, Populus fastigiata, P. angulata, are unfolded.
30. In blossom on the Schuylkill, Obolaria virginiana, Anemone trifolia, Hydrastis canadensis, &c.
May 1. In blossom in the Neck, Cerastium vulgatum? Veronica serpyllifolia, V. arvensis, Ranunculus bulbosus, Viola cucultata.
3. Found above the Falls of the Schuylkill, Viola striata, V. concolor, V. primulifolia, V. blanda, Fumaria aurea, F. cucullaria, Charophyllum procumbens, Uvularia sessitifolia, U. perfoliata, Cercis canadensis, Arabis falcata, Stellaria pubera, Erigeron pulchellum, Orchis spectabilis, Hydrastis canadensis, Dentaria diphylla, Azalea nudiflora, &c.
4. Found on the Vissahikon, Arabis bulbosa, Panax trifolium, Viola pectata, V. rotundifolia, Cardamine pennsylvanica, Krigia virginica, and several grasses.
7. Found in blossom over the Schuylkill, Laurus sassafras, Viburnum prunifolium, Aronia arbutifolia, A. melanocarpa, Fragaria virginica, Cerastium nutans, Raf., Convallaria majalis, naturalized, and several species of the genus Vaccinium.
10. Found below the falls of the Schuylkill, Floerkea uliginosa, Viburnum acerifolium, Oxalis violacea, Cerastium tenuifolium, lechoma hederacea, &c.: and the following above the Falls—Trillium cernuum, Viola pubescens, V. pennsylvanica, Hydrophyllum virginicum, Polemonium reptans, Senecio aureus, Saxifraga pennsylvanica, Staphylea trifoliata, Obolaria virginica, Caltha palustris, Ranunculus abortivus, &c.
11. Seen the first bat.
12. Near Haddonfield, Bartsia coccinea, Helonias bullata, Trifolium repens, &c.
15. Found between Cambden and Haddonfield, Trifolium pratense, Silene virginica, Antirrhinum canadense, Lithospermum tenellum, Raf., Festucatenella, Seleranthus annuus, Oxalis biflora, Raf., Poa rubra, Vaccinium corymbosum, Viola palmata, V. parvifolia, Raf., Rubus flagellaris, &c. Also in blossom, Quercus rubra, Q. obtusiloba, Q. alba, &c.
20. Found near Burlington, Plantago virginica, Euphorbia ipecacuanha, Comptonia asplenifolia, Myosotis lappula, Senecio obovatus, Scirpus acicularis, Lithospermum trinervum, Raf., L. tenellum, Raf., &c.; besides several Carex.
Art. XVII. Description of a New Species of North American Marten, (Mustela vulpina).
Art. XVII. Description of a New Species of North American Marten, (Mustela vulpina) by C. S. Rafinesque.
The regions watered by the Missouri are inhabited by many animals, as yet unknown to the zoologists, although many have been noticed by travellers. A species of marten has lately been presented to the Lyceum of Natural History in New-York, which was brought from that country, and appears to belong to a peculiar species, very different from the common martens of Europe, Asia, and America, although it has, in common with it, the character of the yellow throat; but the head, feet, and tail, afford so many peculiar characters, that no doubt can be entertained of its diversity. I have, therefore, given to it the name of Mustela vulpina, or Fox Marten, owing to its head and tail being somewhat similar to that of a fox.
Mustela Vulpina. Definition—Brown, three large yellowish spots underneath on the throat, breast, and belly; cheeks, inside of the ears, and a spot on the nape, white; tail tipped with white one-third of total length; feet blackish, toes white.
Description.—This animal is of a fine shape: its size is rather above mediocrity, being about half a foot high, and the total length being twenty-seven inches, whereof nine form the tail. The general colour of the fur is of a drab brown, and it is neither coarse nor very fine. The head is elongated, oblong, about four inches long, shaped like that of a fox; the snout is narrow; the nose is black, notched, and granulated, furnished on each side with black whiskers, two inches long: there are three long black hairs, or vibrissa, above each eye, and a few shorter ones scattered behind them on the cheeks, chin, and tip of the lower jaw, which is white: the cheeks are whitish, and there is a white spot on the nape of the neck: the ears are large, broad, and white inside. There are three large, oblong spots, on the throat, breast, and belly; this last is the largest; that on the breast the smallest. The fore legs are shorter than the hind ones, and have, behind, three very long hairs or vibrissa: the feet and toes of all the legs are covered with long fur; the former have a dark brown or blackish ring, and the latter are of a dirty white: there are five long toes to all the feet, of which the inner one is the shortest; the nails are white, retractible, and shorter than the fur. The teeth are as in the genus Mustela, and white; those of the lower jaw are larger and stronger: the grinders are four on each side; they are broad, trifid, with the middle lobe sharp and very long: the tusks, or dogteeth, are very strong, curved, and approximated, leaving a very small place for the incisores, which are very small, very short, and flat; the two lateral ones on each side are situated diagonally, the second behind, and the two middle ones are only half the size of the others. The tail is bushy, particularly at the top, where there is a white pencil of long hairs; the brown of the remainder is darker than on the body.
From the above accurate description, it will appear evident that this animal is very different from the common marten of North America. It must be a ferocious little animal, and very fierce; which is indicated by the strength of the teeth.