BY EDWAKD DOUBLEDAY. 277 



Every view I take of them makes them appear more wondrous, 

 and the whirlpool is scarcely less so; the rapids below the 

 Falls are also very fine. 



After leaving Niagara, I again visited Trenton, and staid 

 four days ; on leaving, Mr. Moore would not take a cent from 

 me ; I was sorry for this, because it will make me hesitate 

 about staying with him so freely another time. You would 

 have laughed to have seen me helping to put the corn in the 

 cribs, to get in his hai'icot beans, and to fan his wheat ; or 

 riding home with him on a load of straw. It is thus that I get 

 on pleasantly through the country — pleasantly to myself and 

 pleasing others too ; whilst Professor Daubeny, of Oxford, 

 (who accompanied me to Trenton,) with a servant to wait on 

 him, is full of troubles and vexations I never dreamed of. 



Chapter V. 



[Written at New York, and containing observations on the whole of the previous 

 Journey. — Ed.] 



New York, Nov. 14, 1837. — I have sent the skin of an 

 Opossum, caught at Wanborough. I could not skin the tail 

 the usual way, and I learn that it is impossible. I was much 

 amused with seeing this one " possum^' i. e. sham dead ; when 

 the dogs had caught him, he lay with his mouth open quite 

 still, and even allowed some of the party to blow smoke down 

 his throat without moving in the least; but, on being left 

 alone, he soon woke up. Opossums are easily caught, if you 

 can only once get a sight of them ; a slight blow will make 

 them jyossum, and then you may carry them anywhere. 



The insects in the boxes will speak for themselves ; but I 

 will now make a few general observations on the Entomology 

 of this country, as far as" I have at present observed it. 



I will first tell you, that I have paid more attention to Lepi- 

 doptera and Coleoptera than to the other classes, consequently 

 the boxes will show an unfair proportion of these two classes. 

 I will first speak of the immediate vicinity of Trenton Falls. 



Coleoptera, with the exception of some few species, are by 

 no means numerous, as I have before said ; you may, through- 

 out the summer, go into the woods, and turn over logs 

 and stones for a whole day, and not obtain twenty beetles. 

 Beating is of very little use. Sweeping is somewhat better; 



