360 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



the muscles being articulated in a singular manner, quite through to 

 the vertebra. They are numerous in the sandy woods of the Caroli- 

 nas and Georgia." * They are also found in the middle states. 



"The Joint Snake has a skin as hard as parchment, and as smooth 

 as glass. It is beautifully streaked with black and white. It is so 

 stiff, and has so few joints, and those so unyielding, that it can hardly 

 bend itself into the form of a hoop."f 



Thus far we have given as complete a list as could be procured of 

 the animals of the United States according to the Linnean arrange- 

 ment. A long catalogue might also be given of the fish, and a list of 

 the insects would fill a volume. The latter is of course impossible, 

 and a list of the fish would not be sufficiently interesting to compen- 

 sate for the room it would occupy. We shall therefore confine our- 

 selves to a few of the most interesting species of these two classes. 



Fish. The Sturgeon is the largest fresh water fish of the United 

 States. It is found in almost all the considerable rivers of the Union. 

 The Blue-bream of the southern states is a beautiful and delicious 

 fish. The body is dark blue, powdered with sky-blue, gold and red 

 specks. Herrings appear off the coast about the latter end of March, 

 and by the middle of April are caught in immense quantities. Shad 

 of a superior quality, pay a regular annual visit to the Atlantic coasts, 

 a short time after the herrings. Perch, Rock, Old Wives, Catfish, 

 Salmon, Black-fish, Mackarel, and many others, abound in the rivers. 

 Excellent Trout are found in the cold water creeks. The Lamprey 

 abounds in the rivers of New-England. Pike are found in all the 

 states, and sometines are caught very large. Cuttle-fish, Sharks, 

 Sword-fish, Dolphins, and other sea fish, are found off the coast of 

 the United States. Cod-fish abound along the shores of New-Eng- 

 land. 



Insects. One of the most distinguished of the American insects, 

 from the destruction which it occasionally commits, is the locust, 

 cicada septendecim. This insect is found in all the quarters of the 

 world, in almost all the parts of the torrid and temperate zones. The 

 singularity of their periodical visits, and their immense numbers at 

 those seasons, make them too well known to need much description, 

 Their visits to the United States are not regular, varying from eight 

 to fourteen years, nor do they appear in all parts of the country in the 

 same season. The Hessian Fly is an insect which annually commits 

 great ravages among the wheat. Common opinion has ascribed its 

 introduction to the troops from Hesse Castle which served in the Bri- 

 tish army during the revolution. This opinion has however been 

 questioned by many, and some authors assert that the insect is not 

 known in Germany. Promising harvests of wheat are frequently to- 

 tally destroyed by this insect. There is also a species of Bug which 

 does considerable mischief to the wheat, maize, and other grain. The 

 maize also suffers in various stages of its growth by the Bud-worm. 

 Different grasses, maize, &c. are often destroyed by the Grass-cater- 

 pillar. There are two species of Pea-bugs found hi the southern 

 states, which occasionally commit dreadful havoc among the peas. 

 Among the other insects which injure the vegetables and fruit are 

 the May-bug, Rose-bug, Cucumber-fly, Potatoe-fly, different species 

 of weavels, moths, &c. 



* Morse. f idem. 



