I found the freshwater shells of this region to be a very attractive theme of observation in places
"Where the tiger steals along,
And the dread Indian chants his dismal song;"
where, indeed, there was scarcely anything else to attract attention; and I have collected a body of bivalves, which will be forwarded to our mutual friend, Dr. Mitchell, for description. Indeed, the present communication is designed, after you have perused it, to pass under his eye. No one in our scientific ranks is more alive to the progress of discovery in all its physical branches. Governor Clinton, in one of his casual letters, has very happily denominated him the Delphic oracle, for all who have a question to ask come to him, and his scientific memory and research, in books, old and new, are such, that it must be a hard question indeed which he cannot solve.
Next to him, as an expounder of knowledge, you, my dear sir, as the representative of the corps editorial, take your place. For, if it is the writer of books who truly increases information, every decade's experience more and more convinces me that it is the editor of a diurnal journal who diffuses it, by his brief critical notices, or by giving a favorable or unfavorable impetus to public opinion.
I am expected, I find, to publish my private narrative of the expedition, to serve at least—if I may say so—as a stay to popular expectation, until the more matured results can be duly elaborated. I am taking breath here, among my friends, for a few days, and shall be greatly governed by your judgment in the matter, after my arrival at Albany.
I am, sir,
With sincere respect,
Your obedient servant,
HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT.
To Nathaniel H. Carter, Esq., Albany.
List of Quadrupeds, Birds, &c. observed.
The identification of species in this list, by giving the Indian name, is herein fixed.
| ENGLISH NAME. | INDIAN (ALGONQUIN) NAME. | SCIENTIFIC NAME. |
| Buffalo, | Pe-zhík-i,[ [254] | Bos Americanus. Gm. |
| Elk, | Mush-kos, | Cervus Canadensis. L. |
| Deer (common), | Wa-wash-ká-shi, | Cervus Virginianus. Gm. |
| Moose, | Möz, | Cervus alces. L. |
| Black Bear, | Muk-wah, | Ursus Americanus. Gm. |
| Wolf (gray), | My-een-gan, | Canis vulpes. L. |
| Wolverine, | Gwin-gwe-au-ga,[ [255] | Ursus luscus. L. |
| Fox (red), | Waú-goosh | Canis vulpes. L. |
| Badger, | Ak-kuk-o-jeesh, | Meles labradoria. C. |
| Fox (black), | Muk-wau-goosh, | Canis argenteus. C. |
| Muskrat, | Wau-zhusk, | Fiber vulgaris. C. |
| Martin, | Wau-be-zha-si, | Mustela mortes. L. & B. |
| Fisher, | O-jeeg, | Mustela Pennanti. C. Am. ed., app. v. |
| Beaver, | Am-ik, | Castor fiber. B. |
| Otter, | Ne-gik, | Lutra vulgaris. L. |
| Porcupine, | Kaug, | Hystrix cristata. C. |
| Raccoon, | Ais-e-bun (from ais, a shell, and bun,past tense), | Procyon lotor. C. |
| Hare, | Wau-bose, | Lepus Americanus. Gm. |
| Polecat, | She-kaug, | Mephites putorius. Cu. |
| Squirrel (red), | Ad-je-dah-mo, | Sciurus vulgaris. C. |
| Squirrel (ground or striped), | Ah-gwing-woos, | Sciurus striatus. C. |
| Squirrel (an apparently new species). | ||
| Pouched Rat or Hamster, | No-naw-pau-je-ne-ka-si, | Mus busarius. Shaw. |
| Weasel, | Shin-gwoos, | Mustela vulgaris. L. |
| Mink, | Shong-waish-ke, | Mustela lutreola. C. |
| Jerboa, called the Jumping Mouse,[ [256] | Dipus. C. | |
| Eagle (bald), | Mik-a-zi,[ [257] | F. lucocephulus. L. |
| Fork-tailed Hawk, | Ca-niew, | F. furcatus. L. |
| Chicken Hawk, | Cha-mees, | F. communis. C. |
| Pigeon Hawk, | Pe-pe-ge-wa-zains, | F. columbarius. Wilson. |
| Raven, | Kaw-gaw-ge, | Corvus corax. L. |
| Crow, | On-daig, | C. corone. L. |
| Magpie, | Wau-bish-kau-gau-gi (White Raven),[ [258] | C. pica. L. |
| Cormorant, | Kau-kau-ge-sheeb (Raven-duck), | P. carbe. Brin. |
| Pelican, | Shay-ta, | P. onocrotalus. Illig. |
| Goose, | Wa-wa, | An. anser. L. |
| Brant, | Ne-kuh, | An. bernicla. Wilson. |
| Duck (d. and m.), | Shee-sheeb (a generic term), | Anas. |
| Duck (saw-bill), | On-zig, | A. tadorna. C. |
| Duck (Red-head or Fall) | Misquon-dib, | A. rufus. Gm. |
| Duck (alewives), | Ah-ah-wa. | |
| Swan, | Wau-bis-si, | A. cygnus. C. |
| Heron, | Moosh-kow-e-si, | Ardea. C. |
| Plover, | Tchwi-tchwish-ke-wa, | Charadriûs. C. |
| Turkey, | Mis-is-sa, | Meleagris. C. |
| Blackbird, | Os-sig-in-ok, | The red-winged species. |
| Rail, | Muk-ud-a-pe-nais, | |
| Jay (blue), | Dain-da-si,[ [259] | Garrulus. C. |
| Whippoorwill, | Paish-kwa, | Caprimulgas. L. |
| Robin, | O-pee-chi, | T. migratorius. L. |
| Kingfisher, | Me-je-ge-gwun-a, | Alcedo. C. |
| Pigeon, | O-mee-mi, | Columba emigratoria. |
| Partridge, | Pe-na,[ [260] | Tetrao. C. |
| Crane, | Ad-je-jawk, | Crane family. |
| Gull, | Ky-aushk, | Gull family. |
| Woodpecker, | Ma-ma, | Picus. C. |
| Snipe, | Pah-dus-kau-unzh-i, | Scolipax. C. |
| Owl, | Ko-ko-ko-o,[ [261] | Generic terms for the species. |
| Loon, | Mong, | |
| Mocking-bird (seen as far north as Michilimackinac), | T. polyglotis. Wilson. | |
| Sturgeon, | Na-ma, | Acipenser. L. |
| Sturgeon (paddle-nose), | Ab-we-on-na-ma, | Acipenser spatularia. C. |
| White-fish, | Ad-ik-um-aig[ [262] (means deer of the water). | |
| Salmon trout, | Na-ma-gwoos, | Salmo. L. |
| Trout (speckled), | Na-zhe-ma-gwoos, | |
| Carp, | Nam-a-bin, | Denotes the red fin. |
| Catfish, | Miz-zi, | Silurus. C. |
| Bass, | O-gau. | The striped species. |
| Tulibee, | O-dön-a-bee (wet-mouth). | |
| Eel, | Pe-miz-zi (a specific term). | A specific term. |
| Snake, | Ke-ná-bik (a generic), | Ophidia. C. |
| Snake, | A species supposed peculiar, | |
| Turtle (lake), | Mik-e-nok, | Chelonia. C. |
| Turtle (small land), | Mis-qua-dais, |