Natural History of District of Columhia — McAtee 9 



It will give me pleasure," he continues, "to see this deficiency 

 supplied by another, and the errors, into which I may have 

 fallen, corrected with the same spirit which guided my 

 researches." (p. vii.) 



Some of Mr. Warden's pages are exceedingly interesting. 

 His account of Great Falls is as follows : 



"The distance from Washington to the falls of the Potomac 

 m the Virginia side is about twenty miles. By the bridge, 

 above Georgetown, near the Little-Falls, it was five miles 

 shorter; but some years ago this bridge was destroyed by 

 the pressure of accumulated ice and water after a sudden 

 thaw, and has not been since repaired. The wild and 

 romantic scenery of the Great Falls, which are seen most 

 to advantage from the Virginia (p. 11) side is scarcely to 

 be equalled. There is a stupendous projecting rock covered 

 with cedar, where one may sit and gaze at the waters dash- 

 ing with impetuosity over the rugged surface. At the close 

 of winter vast masses of ice, rolling over the rocks with 

 hideous crash, present a scene truly sublime. 



((« * * Several delicious springs issue from a neighbor- 

 ing hill, which commands an enchanting prospect. The 

 trees which abound here most are willow, birch, cedar, and 

 oaks, of different species. The yellow jessamine ** is of a 

 prodigious size. The prickly peav ^" grows on the banks of 

 the canal. White hore-hound ^^ and sweet-fennel,^- of which 

 there is great plenty, are employed by the inhabitants for 

 medicinal drinks. The odour (p. 12) of aromatic plants 

 seems to be much stronger here than in the Low-Lands. Of 

 wild cherries and strawberries there is great abundance. 

 The banks of the river are infested by different species of 

 snakes, particularly of black,^'' rattle," and copper-head 

 snakes." ^'^ (p. 13.) 



Mr. Warden evidently spent some time upon Analostan 

 Island, and his notes form a fairly complete sketch of its 

 natural history. At anv rate they are far more than has 



» Bignonia racUcans. ^» Coluber constrictor. 



^''Cactus Opuntia. ^* Crotalus horridus. 



" Marrubium vulgare, ^^ Coluber erythogaster. 

 " Faeniculum dulce. 



