NATURAL HISTORY OF THE 69 



It does not appear from the experience of several years, 

 that the clock would vary more than 12 seconds per diem, 

 with the extreme changes of winter and summer, and wet 

 and dry in our climate; when a single rod of iron would 

 produce a change of 22 seconds per diem, and one of brass 

 34. Hence a conclusion may be drawn, that wood (though 

 far from being perfect) is preferable to a single rod, either of 

 iron, or of brass. 



I am, with great esteem, 



your sincere friend, 



and humble servant, 



ANDREW ELLICOTT. 



No. XIV. 



Notices of the Natural History of the mrtiierly parts of Louisiana, 

 in a letter from Dr. John Watkins to Dr. Barton. 



Read Jan- 1st, 1803. St. Louis, Ilinois. O&obr. 20th, 1802. 



Supposed latitude between 39° and 40°. 



DEAR SIR, 



In the note which you gave me some time ago, relative 

 to some of the animals, larger trees and shrubs, that are to 

 be found on the west side of the Mississippi; you requested 

 me, that as the questions were made without much regard to 

 order, to trouble myself as little as possible about the arrange- 

 ment of my answers. I shall therefore proceed, in the spirit 

 of that request, and in the plainest manner, without regard 

 to any particular arrangement, mention such of those ani- 

 mals, trees, and shrubs, as are here to be met with; and state 

 to you as nearly as I can the part of the country where they 

 most abound. 



The red fox (canis vulpes) is not known in this part of the 

 country, or any where on this side the Mississippi, immediately 



