Clark: February 16, 1806
At Fort Clatsop, Clark sent Shannon, Labiche, and Frazier hunting up the Kilhawanakkle River, while Sergeant Gass's party remained unheard from. Clark treated two ailing men: Bratten, weakened with back pain, received bark and saltpeter, while Gibson's persistent fever responded well to Dr. Rush's pills and niter, breaking by nightfall. The hunters returned with a wounded California condor, which Clark examined and measured in extensive detail, concluding it belonged to the vulture family and calling it likely the largest bird in North America. They also brought in a grey eagle. Clark described local Indian dogs as well.
Sunday February 16th 1806 Sent Shannon Labiesh and frazier on a hunting
excurtion up the Kilhaw-a-nak-kle river which discharges itself into the
head of Meriwethers Bay. no word yet of Sergt. Gass and party. Bratten is
verry weak and complains of a pain in the lower part of the back when he
moves which I suppose proceeds from debility. I gave him barks and Salt
peter. Gibsons fever Still Continues obstinate tho not verry high; we gave
him a dose of Dr. Rushes pills which in maney instancis I have found
extreamly efficasious in fevers which are in any measure Caused by the
presence of boil. the niter has produced a perfuse perspiration this
evening and the pils opperated late at night his feaver after which abated
almost intirely and he had a good nights rest.
The Indian Dogs are usually small or much more so than the common cur.
they are party coloured; black white brown and brindle are the more usual
colours. the head is long and nose pointed eyes Small, ears erect and
pointed like those of the wolf, hair Short and Smooth except on the tail
where it is as long as that of the Cur dog and streight. the nativs do not
eate them, or make any further use of them than in hunting the Elk as has
been before observed. Shannon an Labiesh brought in to us to day a Buzzard
or Vulture of the Columbia which they had wounded and taken alive. I
believe this to be the largest Bird of North America. it was not in good
order and yet it wayed 25 lbs had it have been so it might very well have
weighed 10 lbs. more or 35 lbs. between the extremities of the wings it
measured 9 feet 2 Inches; from the extremity of the beak to that of the
toe 3 feet 9 inches and a half. from hip to toe 2 feet, girth of the head
9 inches 3/4. Girth of the neck 71/2 inches; Girth of the body exclusive
of the wings 2 feet 3 inches; girth of the leg 3 inches. the diameter of
the eye 41/2 10ths of an inch, the iris of a pale scarlet red, the puple
of a deep Sea green or black and occupies about one third of the diameter
of the eye the head and part of the neck as low as the figures 12 is
uncovered with feathers except that portion of it represented by dots
foward and under the eye. (See likeness on the other Side of this leaf)
the tail is Composed of twelve feathers of equal length, each 14 inches.
the legs are 43/4 inches in length and of a whitefish colour uncovered
with feathers, they are not entirely Smooth but not imbricated; the toes
are four in number three of which are foward and that in the center much
the longest; the fourth is Short and is inserted near the inner of the
three other toes and reather projecting foward. the thye is covered with
feathers as low as the Knee. the top or upper part of the toes are
imbricated with broad scales lying transversly; the nails are black and in
proportion to the Size of the bird comparitively with those of the Hawk or
Eagle, Short and bluntly pointed-the under Side of the wing is
Covered with white down and feathers. a white Stripe of about 2 inches in
width, also marks the outer part of the wing, imbraceing the lower points
of the feathers, which cover the joints of the wing through their whole
length or width of that part of the wing. all the other feathers of
whatever part are of a Glossy Shineing black except the down, which is not
glossy, but equally black. the Skin of the beak and head to the joining of
the neck is of a pale orrange Yellow, the other part uncovered with
feathers is of a light flesh Colour. the Skin is thin and wrinkled except
on the beak where it is Smooth. This bird fly’s very clumsily. nor do I
know whether it ever Seizes it’s prey alive, but am induced to believe it
does not. we have Seen it feeding on the remains of the whale and other
fish which have been thrown up by the waves on the Sea Coast. these I
believe constitute their principal food, but I have no doubt but that they
also feed on flesh. we did not meet with this bird untille we had decended
the Columbia below the great falls; and have found them more abundant
below tide water than above. this is the Same Species of Bird which R.
Field killed on the 18th of Novr. last and which is noticed on that day
tho not fully discribed then I thought this of the Buzzard Specis. I now
believe that this bird is reather of the Vulture genus than any other, tho
it wants Some of their characteristics particularly the hair on the neck,
and the feathers on the legs. this is a handsom bird at a little distance.
it’s neck is proportionably longer than those of the Hawks or Eagle.
Shannon also brought a Grey Eagle which appeared to be of the Same kind
common to the U, States. it weighed 15 pds. and measured 7 feet 7 inches
between the extremities of the wings
Shannon and Labiesh informed us that when he approached this Vulture after
wounding it, that it made a loud noise very much like the barking of a
Dog. the tongue is long firm and broad, filling the under Chap and
partakeing of its transvirs curvature, or its Sides forming a longitudinal
Groove; obtuse at the point, the margin armed with firm cartelagenous
prickkles pointed and bending inwards.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday February 16th 1806. Sent Shannon, Labiesh, and Frazier on a hunting excursion up the Kilhaw-a-nak-kle River, which empties into the head of Meriwethers Bay. No word yet of Sergt. Gass and his party. Bratten is very weak and complains of a pain in the lower part of his back when he moves, which I suppose comes from debility. I gave him bark and saltpeter. Gibson's fever still continues stubbornly, though not very high; we gave him a dose of Dr. Rush's pills, which in many instances I have found extremely effective in fevers caused in any measure by the presence of bile. The niter (saltpeter) has produced a profuse perspiration this evening, and the pills worked late at night on his fever, after which it abated almost entirely and he had a good night's rest.
The Indian dogs are usually small—much smaller than the common cur. They are parti-colored; black, white, brown, and brindle are the most common colors. The head is long and the nose pointed, eyes small, ears erect and pointed like those of the wolf, hair short and smooth except on the tail, where it is as long as that of the cur dog and straight. The natives do not eat them or make any further use of them than in hunting elk, as has been noted before. Shannon and Labiesh brought in to us today a buzzard or vulture of the Columbia which they had wounded and taken alive. I believe this to be the largest bird of North America. It was not in good condition, and yet it weighed 25 lbs.; had it been in good condition, it might very well have weighed 10 lbs. more, or 35 lbs. Between the tips of the wings it measured 9 feet 2 inches; from the tip of the beak to the tip of the toe, 3 feet 9 1/2 inches; from hip to toe, 2 feet; girth of the head, 9 3/4 inches; girth of the neck, 7 1/2 inches; girth of the body excluding the wings, 2 feet 3 inches; girth of the leg, 3 inches. The diameter of the eye is 4 1/2 tenths of an inch, the iris a pale scarlet red, the pupil a deep sea green or black, occupying about one third of the diameter of the eye. The head and part of the neck, as low as the figures 12, are uncovered with feathers except for the portion represented by dots forward of and under the eye. (See drawing on the other side of this leaf.) The tail is composed of twelve feathers of equal length, each 14 inches. The legs are 4 3/4 inches in length and of a whitish color, uncovered with feathers; they are not entirely smooth, but not scaled either. The toes are four in number, three of which are forward, the center one being much the longest; the fourth is short and inserted near the innermost of the three other toes, rather projecting forward. The thigh is covered with feathers as low as the knee. The top or upper part of the toes is covered with broad scales lying crosswise; the nails are black and, in proportion to the size of the bird compared with those of the hawk or eagle, short and bluntly pointed. The underside of the wing is covered with white down and feathers. A white stripe about 2 inches wide also marks the outer part of the wing, embracing the lower points of the feathers that cover the joints of the wing through their whole length or width of that part of the wing. All the other feathers of whatever part are of a glossy shining black except the down, which is not glossy but equally black. The skin of the beak and head, to the joining of the neck, is a pale orange yellow; the other part uncovered with feathers is a light flesh color. The skin is thin and wrinkled, except on the beak, where it is smooth. This bird flies very clumsily. Nor do I know whether it ever seizes its prey alive, but I am inclined to believe it does not. We have seen it feeding on the remains of the whale and other fish that have been thrown up by the waves on the seacoast. These, I believe, make up their principal food, but I have no doubt that they also feed on flesh. We did not meet with this bird until we had descended the Columbia below the Great Falls, and have found them more abundant below tidewater than above. This is the same species of bird that R. Field killed on the 18th of November last, which is noted on that day though not fully described then; I thought it of the buzzard species. I now believe that this bird is rather of the vulture genus than any other, though it lacks some of their characteristics, particularly the hair on the neck and the feathers on the legs. This is a handsome bird at a little distance. Its neck is proportionally longer than those of the hawks or eagles. Shannon also brought in a gray eagle, which appeared to be of the same kind common to the U. States. It weighed 15 lbs. and measured 7 feet 7 inches between the tips of the wings.
Shannon and Labiesh informed us that when he approached this vulture after wounding it, it made a loud noise very much like the barking of a dog. The tongue is long, firm, and broad, filling the under jaw and sharing its crosswise curvature, with its sides forming a lengthwise groove; it is blunt at the point, the edges armed with firm cartilaginous prickles, pointed and bending inward.
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