PRODUCTIONS, &c.-—BOOK L 
$9 
quantity of earth thrown up, is enormous ; frequently forming 
mounds of three or four feet in height 
The Alligator , is too well known to require any thing to be 
said of him. He is not considered a ferocious or dangerous ani¬ 
mal by the inhabitants. The numbers of this animal have les¬ 
sened of late years from the destruction made by the inhabitants, 
who value their skins. 
The Cameleon , is very common ; and I am informed that in 
the southern parts, both the scorpion and the tarantula exist. 
Of the feathered tribes, something may also be said. There 
is a beautiful bird called the prairie hen, which I think is not de¬ 
scribed. In winter it is found in large flocks, comes into barn¬ 
yards. and frequently alights on the houses of the villagers. It 
is somewhat larger than the pheasant of the United States, (tetrao 
umbellus,) which it resembles somewhat in color, but in shape 
Is much like the guinea hen: and differs from the pheasant in be¬ 
ing easily domesticated. The flesh is dry, black, and by no means 
agreeable. There is a bird on the Missouri, which bears a strong 
resemblance to the pheasant, but. is nearly as large as a turkey 
hen; it is described as being a fine bird. I have seen a specimen 
of the Columbia partridge, of the most beautiful plumage. The 
magpie is found in abundance on the Missouri. 
In the settlements, and for a considerable distance up the 
Missouri, turkies stalk through the woods, in numerous flocks, 
but are rarely met with where the open country commences. 
Quails, tetrao marliandica , are found every where. In the fall 
of the year all the lakes are literally covered with wild fowl, 
ducks, geese, swans, cranes, and a variety of others. 
VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. 
I have already observed that an extensive field lies open to 
the botanist. There are even some considerable forest trees, yet 
undescribed: there is particularly one very beautiful, bois jaune , 
or yellow wood: by some called the mock orange. In size, it 
equals that of the largest peach tree, and the leaves, though 
longer, are pretty nearly similar. The trunk is short, the limbs 
branching out low down. The fruit has some resemblance to the 
