'Specimen of an Indian Calendar. 427 



and passion analogous to those of animal life ; and I reject 

 the latter hypothesis, not only because it is founded upon 

 assuinplions which cannot be granted, but because it is in- 

 sufficient to explain the preceding phajnomcna, unless seed- 

 ling planis be admitted to possess more extensive intellectual 

 powers than are given to the otfspring of the most acute 

 animal. A younu; wild-duck or partridge, when it first sees 

 the insect upon which nature intends it to feed, instinctively 

 pursues and catches it; but nature has given to the young 

 bird an appropriate organization. The plant, <:>n the con- 

 trary, if i:; could feel and perceive the objects of its vi'ants, 

 and will the possession of them, has still to contrive and 

 form the organ by which these are to be approached. The 

 writers who have contended for the existence of sensation 

 in plants, appear to have been sensible of the preceding and 

 other obstacles, and have all betrayed the weakness of 

 their hypothesis, in adducing a few facts only which are 

 favourable to it, and waving wholly the investigation of all 

 others. 



In the description of the preceding experiments, I fear 

 that I have been tediously minute; but, as 1 have selected 

 a few facts ordy from a great number which I could have 

 adduced, I was anxious to give as accurate and distinct a 

 view of those I stated, as poiisible. 

 I am, dear sir, 



with great respect, sincerely yours, 



Downtoii, Jan. 15, 1811. Tho. And. KnIGHT. 



LXXVIJ. specimen of an Indian Calendar, extracted from 

 Ms " Elements of Botany," bij Pro/'essor Barton, of 

 America. 



JL HE following specimen of the calendar of one of the 

 more cultivated of the Indian tribes of the great tract of 

 country now within the limits of the United States, will 

 not be deemed incurious or unimportant. 



The Onondagos, one of tiie Six-Nations, whose chief re- 

 sidence ever since the arrival of the Europeans in this coun- 

 try has been in the State of New- York, divide the year into 

 twelve months, and begin their year with December*. 



The 



* Thf Onondaga year docs, certainly, consist of twelve months; and these 

 TTiOiiths, I am pretty rcrtaiii. are lunar. In the language of this trilie of the 

 (.■onftdcracy, a riiontli h called ueighnrela, which it the name the Oneidas, 

 vhn are clfi'e iieighhours of the Onondagoi, and who '^pcak a near dialect 

 •1 the tame language, give to tiie muitn. — I do not mean, however, to aiseit 



ikat 



