those which are now only found in the fossil state. 

 Hence, it could not be expected that Vermont would 

 equal, in the variety of its fauna and botany, those 

 neighboring States, which can number the marine with 

 their terrestrial productions. Its settlement, too, took 

 place at a period much later than that of any of the 

 other New England States, and the people have, hith- 

 erto, necessarily, been so much occupied in clearing 

 away the forests and providing the means of subsis- 

 tence, as to allow them neither the time nor the advan- 

 tages for scientific pursuits, which are enjoyed in the 

 older States. Consequently, the number of those who 

 have made any attempt to investigate our natural his- 

 tory has been exceedingly small, compared with the 

 numbers engaged in like pursuits in other States. 

 Hence, it would not be surprising, should it be found 

 that Vermont has been less thoroughly explored than 

 the neighboring States those States, especially, in 

 which legislative aid has been added to their other 

 advantages. 



The most prominent characteristic in the physical 

 features of Vermont is the range of Green Mountains. 

 These mountains, which give name to the State, extend 

 through its entire length from south to north, and have 

 an important relation to the various animal and veget- 

 able productions. The two slopes of this range, one 

 terminating in Connecticut river on the east, and the 

 other in Lake Champlain and Hudson river on the 

 west, are so dissimilar in their characteristic produc- 

 tions, that they may be regarded as two distinct prov- 

 inces for the labors of the naturalist. While the east- 

 ern slope is, in its character, clearly identified with 

 New England, the western exhibits, as clearly, the 



