JOURNAL 
OF AN 
EXPLORATION OF WESTERN MISSOURI IN 1854, 
UNDER 
THE AUSPICES OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
BY P. R. HOY, M. D. 
April 4, 1854.—Left Racine, Wisconsin, on the steamer Traveller. The day 
was fine, with a gentle breeze from the north. As the boat glided on, large 
numbers of herring gulls, Larus argentatus, followed in her wake, picking up, 
with clamorous cries, whatever would serve their gluttonous appetites. I no- 
ticed one ring-billed gull, Larus zonorhynchus, a lesser, more active, and grace- 
ful species. Saw a scoter duck, Fuligula americana ; this marine species is 
occasionally met on Lake Michigan during winter and early spring. 
5th.—Stayed in Chicago last night. In the forenoon we had a pleasant ride 
on the Galena railroad to Rockford, on Rock river. The train passed close by a 
flock of wild geese, which appeared more surprised than frightened, arranged 
soldier-like in a long line. .They silently gazed with upstretched necks, look- 
ing as if they would demand “ What next?’ From Rockford we went, in the 
afternoon, by private conveyance, to the residence of Hon. 8. Ruggles, near 
Grand de Tour. 
7th.—Rigged out our “traps” and went on a fishing excursion to Pine 
creek, a small rocky mill-stream that empties its waters into Rock river. 
Caught a number of fish, some of which were new to me; captured a garter 
snake, Hutenia sirtalis. My son met with a hog-nose snake, Heterodon pla- 
tyrhinos, but did not succeed in capturing it; the harmless serpent succeeded, 
by hisses and threatening attitudes, in intimidating the boy. 
8th.—Went on Rock river to-day; caught several species of fish and a num- 
ber of batrachians; nothing, however, new. The Hylodes gryllus is an 
abundant species here, keeping up almost a continual clicking rattle, which may 
be readily imitated by striking together two small pebbles, commencing slowly 
and increasing to a rapid chatter. I amused myself by “ starting the tune,” in 
which these diminutive castanet performers did not fail to join right merrily. 
Shot a coot, ( Fulica,) a marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa, and several- field spar- 
rows, Spizella pusilla. Saw large numbers of geese and ducks. My son col- 
lected a fine lot of shells; some of the unios were most beautiful and perfect. 
9th.—Shot many ducks, a swamp sparrow, and a grass finch. I saw a large 
number—I should judge not less than a hundred—painted tortoises, Emys picta, 
dead on the margin of a mill-pond, where they had been left by the melting of 
ice and frozen mud which had been dislodged and driven on shore by the spring 
freshet. A part of the pond was shallow and had frozen during the past unu- 
sually severe winter to the bottom, including a considerable stratum of mud in 
which the tortoises had crept to hibernate. Can any reptile be revivified after 
being thoroughly frozen? Itis well known that fish will survive freezing, but 
