386 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



U.S. E ^Ueer <*e?C ;■ 



APPENDIX No. 6. 



Washington City, October 8, 1847. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit, herewith, a rep ort of such ob- 

 jests of natural history as came under my observation while I was 

 attached to the topographical party, under your command, during 

 the journey from Fort Leavenworth to Seat's Fort. 



The plants' whicTTwere collected were submitted to the inspec- 

 tion of Dr. Torrey, to whom I am indebted for their names. 

 With great respect, I am, sir, your most obedient servant, 



J. W. ABERT. 

 Lieutenant U. S. Top. Engineers. 



To. Lieut. W. H. Emory, 



U. S. Topographical Engineers. 



Notes of Lieutenant J. W. Jlbcrt. 



On the 27th of Ju. 3, 1846, we set out from Fort Leavenworth. 

 The day was clear and bright; the woods were rejoiced with the 

 voice of the mocking bird, and of the many little warblers that 

 would join in the chorus of his song: the bluebird was there with 

 his sprightly notes, and the meadow lark, perched on some tall 

 mullein we.d, caroled forth his song of love. As we were heartily 

 tired of remaining quiet, we were well prepared to enjoy the 

 beautiful scenes that our progress gradually developed. The 

 gi -/ana is what is called "rolling prairie," of gentle curves, one 

 swell melting nto another. 



The soil around is extremely rich; the whole country is verdant 

 with the rank growth of the "tall grass," as it is called by way of 

 eminence, when compared with that which grows beyond the re- 

 gion of the walnut and the hickory. 



Here are many varieties of useful timbei: the hickory, the wal- 

 nut, the linden, the ash, the hornbeam, the maple, the birch, and 

 the beech, also the cotton wood; but, beyond the limits of the "tall 

 grass," there is the cotton wood only. 



Five miles from Fort Leavenworth we passed a large butte, 

 called "Pilot Knob;" its top is fiat, and unites with the-valftcs 1 

 low in a curve like that of a rope slackly drawn; spreading over 

 tl^3ifll!te' Tik ,, tt iJid climbing almost to the top of the butte, we saw 

 fb&^ove s t sor^fcli^ e r , consisting chiefly of oak. Among the shrubs, 

 - we noticed the mizel, (corylus Americanus,) and the button bush, 

 (cephalantus occidentalis;) among these the wild grape had twisted 



