Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-07-10
From The Baltimore Patriot.

AUDUBoN.-The following extracts from letter Just
received by Dr. Gideon b. Smith, from this distinguished
naturalist will be read with great by his friends:
MISSOURI RIVER, May 2ith, ls43.
My Dean FRIEND As it happens that fast on
bar about $50 miles below Fort ST. Pierre Of the
NY establishments Of the American Fur Company, have
taken into my head bore you with another letter. and
you must make the best OF will, however try togive
some interest as tar as can Since my last you dated
May Is, the country has assumed different aspect and
hafo the The rverhss become be-
the hills through which passes and has also become
straight; with less water fewer snags and
many sand bars. The bluffs have become more alb.
pt and more picturesque in their FORMS for the effects
OF cold and thawS take place. their upper portions lose their
softer parts and the harder parts the shapes OF bat
Elements, towers, &C., and when viewed from distance
look unlike curousy built cities The trees be-
coming scarcer and Of extremely stunted growth and
the ravnes that wind their between the hills the growth
principally red cedar. The hills themselves which grad
ualy ascend plains OF immense and all Of
the very poorest description; much that
scarcely conceive how millions OF buiaoes anieoPes deer
&C., manage TO subsist and yet they do and grow fat
between this and autumn. Them dear friend have
reached these Wild and my eye, melancholy looking dis
trics on which those countless muuudes OF monstrous
sized animals live, and die by the and rife bullet
than by drowning whilst attempting the rapid
Missouri The shores strewed with their carcasses
which the wolf, the and the vunre gorge them
selves at leisure and unmoested for hunters rarely
shoot any Of these. We have many elk, abuhd-
Of deer, antelopes bufaloes, wild cats wolves and
bear. Our folks have shot bufiaoes but have not
",
and when killed only display of bones and skin.
with very thin portion of iesh and if you shoot bull
the rankness OF its better parts quite enough revolt the
stomach of all but starving men.
The winter has been very severe that Buaoes have
been or 400 miles lower down the than they had
been for twenty years The calves have been nearly all
destroyed. In the way Of plants have Gao
fuses unknown TO US previously and intend 10 take plenty
of specimens home with We have also found beau
ttu dwarf sweetscened Pea, that perfumes the whole
mosphere grows all the sandy and grayey dresry
md aofx hava
called here the white apple winch is farinacous and
makes good mush when dried and pounded fine. OF
these also, shall take specimens We have collected
every thing that was in bloom and shall continue do
when in seed and ripe, for all friends and near In
Zoology, we have done pretty fair Onthology better
we have already four birds, and will, doubt,
find We have felt all the transitions OF weather that
have the Eastward the thermometer ranging 44S
92s in the day. We sadly annoyed by heavy
and almost winds that retnrd progress
or less almost daily. We have caught only few catfish
and these do not much relish. No oers, beavers musk
rats mnks found in about the iurbid waters
of this almighty stream, the OF which looks more
like that OF hog-Puddle than any thing else
pare to- About onetenth of its bulk forms deposit
half hour Springs Of magnesia abound in many of the
raynes. Sulphur and oxide OF iron shew themselves fire.
quenty Immense bluffs Of WHITE blue and yellow sand
stone also found well banks OF granite on
the tops Of the highest hills. But single specimen Of
fossil remains, yet although assured that they
abounded along these bluffs We equally assured we
should small Birds and we have millions of
them, including almost every species find in the East
ern States,
May 29.-We AT Foit George, not more than 90
miles from Fort ST. Pierre but may have put ashore
half OF our cargo the is low il was high
when we left ST. Louis This is a great disappointment
ALL Fort ST. Pierre is the place whore onehalf Of
cargo has TO be delivered. No form an idea
Of the quantity of buioes have since writing the
above. The prares, the hills aud the ravnes are all dot
Jed with these heavy looking animals. We had u pleasant
excursion the Great Bend where the river runs 90
miles. and walk exceeded three and a half We
encamped night and fed entirely upon the best veni.
son eattwas OF that species of deer called the black
tailed mule deer. We saw, the day, upwards Of
5000 buialoes feedngin the prares around U.s. but they
poor at present eat and for this few or
none killed have met with opportunity for for
wardng this ST. Louis, quite Unexpectedly, and will take
i-therefore further details, present Remem.
Der TO a and believe yours, oyer and sincerely
JOHN J. AUDUBON.