PREFACE. 



Ever since tlie publication of lils Gazetteer of Vermont in 1S21, the avitlior lias 

 contemplated a larger work, which should embrace, not only the Gazetteer, but a 

 general History of the state, both Natural and Civil. He accordingly commenced 

 collecting and laying aside materials for that purpose, and during the four years last 

 past, he has devoted the greater part of his time to the preparation and publication 

 of the work. His means and facilities for the researches and investigations in 

 which he has been engaged, have not been such as he could have wished ; but he 

 has endeavored to improve these, such as they were, to the best advantao-e ; and 

 now, through the blessing of a kind Providence, he is enabled to lay before his 

 fellow citizens the result of his labors. That his work, embracing, as it does, sub- 

 jects so multifarious and dissimilar, has many imperfections, he is fullv sensible j 

 but he ventures to indulge the hope that it may be found to answer the reasonable 

 expectations of all, and especially of those who can duly appreciate the labor and 

 difficulties of a work of this kind. 



For convenience in printing, the three several parts into which the work is divi- 

 ded, have been separately paged, and, to the two first parts, separate indices have 

 been prepared. On account of the alphabetical arrangement of the third part, an 

 index to that was thought to be unnecessary. 



Part First is devoted to the Natural History of the state, and is almost wliolly 

 the result of original investigations. The only general account of our Natural His- 

 tory, which has hitherto been published, is that contained in Dr. Williams' History. 

 Though highly interesting and useful, that account was prepared at a period and 

 under circumstances which necessarily rendered it imperfect, and in many respects 

 erroneous. Misled by the vulgar names, and depending upon the representations 

 of the liunters, he has in, perhaps, a majority of cases, applied the scientific names 

 of European animals to ours, which, thougii bearing considerable resemblance to 

 tliem, are specifically distinct. The first chapter of this part contains the result of 

 Beveral years' meteorological observations made by the author at Burlington, and 

 also of observations made at several other places within the state. The author's 

 views will be found here, respecting the formation of ice, earthquakes, the cause of 

 the coldness of our climate compared with that of Europe, &c. The descriptions 

 in the four following chapters have been nearly all made by the author, directly 

 from Vermont animals. In some cases, where Vermont specimens could not be pro- 

 cured, and the animal was known to exist in the state, a borrowed description has 

 been introduced, but in all such cases the source from which it was derived has 

 been indicated, by placing the name of the author at the close of the description. 

 In making out his account of the Birds, he was much assisted by a list of Vermont 

 Birds, kindly furnished by Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, of Boston ; and in determining 

 several species of Reptiles and Fishes, he has been kindly aided by Dr. D. H. 

 Storer, also of Boston. For the full descriptions of our Molluscous Animals, in 

 the sixth chapter, he is indebted to the kindness of Prof. C. B. Adams, of Middle- 

 bury College, and the full and excellent Catalogue of Vermont Plants has been 



