252 Richmond, Ornithological Writings of Rafinesque. [July 



Havre de Grace, where they are still plentiful in winter. 

 When there, I was shown the plant or grass they feed upon, 

 and found it to be the Valisneria Americana, a new species, 

 somewhat different from the Valisneria spiralis of Europe. 

 It covers the bottom of the shallow parts of the Susquehan- 

 nah, and the head of the bay, from which its leaves nearly 

 reach the surface of the water. The root shoots, in the fall, 

 fleshy and almost esculent buds or protuberances, which stand 

 during the winter, and are the chief food of the anas ferina 

 in those parts. Those that escape them send forth next spring 

 new leaves, and sometimes stems also. — The Valisneria Ame- 

 ricana is called channel-weed in the river Delaware, and can- 

 vass-back-duck-food in the Susquehannah." 



In 1810, Rafinesque published his 'Caratteri,' a pamphlet of 

 105. pages, and doubtless one of the commonest of his works. This 

 was apparently issued in blue paper covers (one copy seen by me 

 is in this state), and without the list of writings that occurs on some 

 of I his later tracts. 



The matter relating to birds is reprinted below. 



Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di Animali e Piante 

 della Sicilia con varie osservazioni sopra i medesimi. Opuscolo 

 del Sig. C. S. Rafinesque Schmaltz. Palermo. 1810. (Dedica- 

 tion dated "Palermo 1. Aprile 1810.") 



[p. 5.] 

 CAPITOLO II — GLI UCCELLI 



2. Sp. FALCO Erythruros — Tutto bigio con il 

 groppone e le coseie rosse ferruginose, rostro gial- 

 lastro, nero alia punta, piedi e cera arancini. — Oss. 

 questo piccolo Falcone o piu tosto Smeriglio e raro, 

 lo ho sentito nominare Falco Palumbo da alcuni 

 Cacciatori, egli si ritrova vicino a Palermo e giunge 

 appena alia lunghezza di un piede; e molto grazioso 

 e ben distinto da qualunque altra specie del nume- 

 roso genere a cui appartiene. 



3. Sp. ARDEA Xanthodactyla — Tutta bianca, 



