Clark: March 10, 1806
The weather cleared around 1 P.M., and the captains dispatched three hunting parties—two on either side of the Netul River and another assigned to head out the next morning past Meriwether's Bay to hunt beyond the Kilhowanakkle, an area not yet well explored. Strong winds blew all day, and the visiting Indians left in the evening. Hunters reported an enormous fir tree measuring 39 feet in girth and an estimated 300 feet tall. Clark also recorded detailed descriptions of local waterfowl, including the brown duck, black duck, divers, and blue-winged teal.
Monday March 10th 1806 about 1 P.M. it became fair and we Sent out two
parties of hunters on this Side of the Netul, one above and the other
below, we also derected a party to Set out early in the morning and pass
Meriwethers Bay and hunt beyond the Kilhow anak kle. from the last we have
considerable hope, as we have as yet hunted but little in that quarter. it
blew hard all day, in the evening the Indians departed. The Hunters, S. R.
F. & F. who were over the netul the other day informed us that they
measured a 2d tree of the fir Speces (No. i) as high as a man Could reach,
was 39 feet in the girth; it tapered but very little for about 200 feet
without any Considerable limbs, and that it was a very lofty above the
Commmencement of the limbs. from the appearance of other Species of fir,
and their account of this tree, I think it might safely estimated at 300
feet. it had every appearance of being perfectly Sound in every part
The brown Duck is much in form like the Duckinmallard, tho not much more
than half it’s Size. the colour is one uniform mixture of yellowish and
dark brown. there is nothing remarkable in the colour of this duck; it
resorts the Same kind of grassy marshes with the Duckinmallard, and feeds
in a Similar manner, on grass, Seeds & roots. both these ducks are
common to the river for Some distance above tide water as well as below.
The black Duck is about the Size of the bluewinged teel. their colour is a
duskey black the breast and belly Somewhat lighter than the other parts,
or a dark brown. the legs Stand longitudianally with the body, and the
Bird when on Shore Stands very erect. the legs and feet are of a dark
brown, the toes are four on each foot, a short one on the heel and three
long toes in front which are unconnected with a web. the web is atached to
each Side of the Several joints of the toes, and devided by deep Sinuses
at each joint. the web assumeing in the intermediate part an elipticle
figure. the beak is about two inches long, Streight, flated on the Sides,
and tapering to a Sharp point. the upper chap Somewhat longest and bears
on its base at the joining of the head, a little conic protuberance of a
cartelagenous Substance, being redish brown. the beak is of a ivery white
colour. the eye dark. these ducks usially associate in large flocks, and
are very noisey; their note being a Sharp shrill whistle. they are usially
fat and tolerably flavoured; and feed on moss and other vegitable
productions of the water. we did not meet with them untill we reached tide
water, I have noticed the Same duck on maney parts of the ohio an
Mississippi. the Gizzard and liver are also remarkably large in this
fowl-. The Divers are the Same with those of the atlantic States. the
Smaller Species has some white feathers about the rump and no perceptable
tail and is very active and quick in its motion; the body is of a redish
brown. the beak sharp and Somewhat curved like that of the Pheasant the
toes are not connected but webd. like those discribed of the black duck.
The large Species are about the Size of the teal &c. the food of both
those Species is fish. and their flesh is unfit for use.
The bluewinged teal are a very excellent duck, and are the Same with those
of the atlantic coast.There are some other Species of ducks which
Shall be hereafter discribd. as I may hereafter have an oppertunity of
exameneing them.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday, March 10th, 1806. About 1 P.M. the weather became fair, and we sent out two parties of hunters on this side of the Netul, one above and the other below. We also directed a party to set out early in the morning and pass Meriwethers Bay (Meriwether's Bay) and hunt beyond the Kilhowanakkle. From the last we have considerable hope, as we have as yet hunted but little in that quarter. It blew hard all day. In the evening the Indians departed. The hunters S., R., F., and F., who were over the Netul the other day, informed us that they measured a second tree of the fir species (No. 1): as high as a man could reach, it was 39 feet in girth. It tapered but very little for about 200 feet without any considerable limbs, and it was very lofty above the commencement of the limbs. From the appearance of other species of fir, and their account of this tree, I think it might safely be estimated at 300 feet. It had every appearance of being perfectly sound in every part.
The brown duck is much in form like the duckinmallard (mallard), though not much more than half its size. The color is one uniform mixture of yellowish and dark brown. There is nothing remarkable in the color of this duck. It resorts to the same kind of grassy marshes as the duckinmallard, and feeds in a similar manner, on grass, seeds, and roots. Both these ducks are common to the river for some distance above tidewater as well as below.
The black duck is about the size of the bluewinged teal. Their color is a dusky black, the breast and belly somewhat lighter than the other parts, or a dark brown. The legs stand longitudinally with the body, and the bird when on shore stands very erect. The legs and feet are of a dark brown. The toes are four on each foot, a short one on the heel and three long toes in front which are unconnected with a web. The web is attached to each side of the several joints of the toes, and divided by deep sinuses at each joint, the web assuming in the intermediate part an elliptical figure. The beak is about two inches long, straight, flattened on the sides, and tapering to a sharp point. The upper chap is somewhat longer and bears on its base, at the joining of the head, a little conic protuberance of a cartilaginous substance, reddish brown in color. The beak is of an ivory white color. The eye is dark. These ducks usually associate in large flocks, and are very noisy, their note being a sharp shrill whistle. They are usually fat and tolerably flavored, and feed on moss and other vegetable productions of the water. We did not meet with them until we reached tidewater. I have noticed the same duck on many parts of the Ohio and Mississippi. The gizzard and liver are also remarkably large in this fowl.
The divers are the same as those of the Atlantic states. The smaller species has some white feathers about the rump and no perceptible tail, and is very active and quick in its motion. The body is of a reddish brown. The beak is sharp and somewhat curved, like that of the pheasant. The toes are not connected but webbed like those described of the black duck. The large species are about the size of the teal, etc. The food of both these species is fish, and their flesh is unfit for use.
The bluewinged teal are a very excellent duck, and are the same as those of the Atlantic coast. There are some other species of ducks which shall be hereafter described, as I may hereafter have an opportunity of examining them.
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