Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-21

: and are, for the most part, undisturbed and reg
l. MAR showing that they were deposited in
7 tranquil sea. The depth Of this deposit, in pla
' ces, exceeds 100 feet, and the highest parts O
> 1t are about 400 feet above the present level q
the ocean. The fossils found in it are consid
erably numerous, aud are, in general, such a
are now found in A living state on the coast o
New England. The fossil bones of smal
species Of whale, which had the pleasure t,
exhibit before this society in December last
were found in this formation.
From the remarks which | have made il
must be obvious that Vermont combines in its
geology the characteristics of western New
England with those of New York. The meet
ing, in Vermont, of two great botanical and 70.
illogical districts or provinces, is equally appa-
rent.
Vermont, for small inland state, is regard
ed as peculiarly rich in vegetable product ions !:
and some portions Of the State have been pret.
| iv thoroughly explored by skilful botanists.-
| When lis settlement was commenced, its en-
tire surface was covered with forests, which
were probably nnsurpas sscd. in density and lux
nrancp, by those of any other section of our
country of equal area The sugar maple and
white pine found no where else more congo.
NAL soil and the evergreens, spruce, and fir.
which covered the surface of our mountains.
and first suggested for them the name Of |eW
Mont, grow to a respectable size almost to their
highest submits. several Of which exceed 1000
feet in height. With the exception Of seven or
eight species, our list of forest trees embraces
all hat have hitherto been fun in New Eng
land, and three, or more, species, which have
been found in m other New England State.
Aside from the marine plant. furnished BY the
sea- board, aud few alpine plants found on t'e
White Mountains Of New IIa npshre. Vernon,
i known to produce nearly all OF the indigenous
plants of New Engad. and in addition 10 these
some ID or mIrc species, which are not found
IN any other New England State. These 40
r more species, whi III are not found TO the |
eastward of Vermont are mostly confined t.
the western border of Il State, and are, in |
ennral, such as are common in the State OF !
Now York, and further westward. As the bot |
any OF Vermont has yet been only partially cy-
plorcd, there still being considerable sections of
he State which no skilful horanist has ever
visited it is not unreasonable to suppose that
many ne,r pants remain TO stimulate and re-
ward he labor of future search.
While the iaboyers in Vermont in the field.
If geology and botany, have been very few.
hose engaged in the investigation of the zbNlc-
~ Of the State have been still fewer The
neagrc account OF uur animtlS contained in
DR.. Williams valuable history of Vermont,
until very recently embraced alm,st all that
lld ever been published respecting them. Bu'
hat work was written at a very early period.
when the subject OF Natural History, in this
country, was Itt'p understood, and when an cx.
min ,ion Of the State, to which it relates. had
lardIy been commenced. In that work (althn'
his attempt to assign to our animals and vege-
ablcs their scientific names, was faIure,) he
collected together from the hunters and early
settlers, mnch that is valuable in relation 10 the
magnitude, habits, &c, Of our larger animals
md saved trom oblivion many facts which are
10 where else preserved. ,
After the publication Of DR.. Williams hi<to-
Y, the last edition of which WAS issued more
han 40 years ago, nothing further was publish.
d respecting the Natural History f the State
Xcepting catalogue of Vermont minerals By !
PROT. Frederick Hail. and catalogue Of .he q
'ints Of Middlebury and vicinii, by d.. T. Twin
tmes, previous To the publication of INV Natu.
al and Civil History of the State, in lSl2.-
having. myself, devoted considerable attention +
. the rcrteirua OF the State. and being kindly ,
ided in the department of botany by the late ,
VILLAIN O,kes. E-q Of Ip'wich Mass, and r
n coneholory by Prof. G. B. Adams, then Of 4,
liddlehury College, with occasional assistance
4 other branches OF zoology, kindly rendered
y members Of this society, ! WAS entbIrd to t.
mbracc in that work nearly all that was then f
N WI Of the Natural History Of the State
since the issue Of that work, much more ha r
zen done. aud many ftc's accumulated. whicl, n
ave not been made public, and still the inve<. /
CATION Of some branches Of the NltGra IIisto- n
' of Vermont is not vet commenced
Qnadrupcd. and bitts possess such fcilities
'r locomoton, that they could not be expected I
l Vermont to dlti''r much from those Of the .,
rghblring States. The number Vt species of h
nr native quadrupeds. which have been care ,
lily determined, is. at least, - aud of bird, n
lore than 100 species have been ascertannd
Oar largest native qnadrnped, the Moose C.
hch grow to the siZa of an Ok, and whose a
Ash furnished TO our early settlers an cxclllen, n
lb>tliute for beef. is now il not entirely cyfrr- il
Tnated. confined - a small section in the Y
lrtheast corner Of the State. The Beaver .
hose skin was once an important article ll r,
lpOr, Il wholly eX'irpa'ed. The pan.h.r. Il
e Wolf, the Wolverine, the Deer the B,ar- +
short, all the larger species have been grad G.
ally diminishing, and most of the kind, have NJ
come exceedingly rare. The native black :,
at llHS Amer pw>) has vanished. bnt the o
immigrant gray RAJ. Mas decumapuS has, in r,
'me parts OF the State, usurped itS place, and a
Is become great nuisance. y tits cnri- G
- ldCt Va u tltie Is, III lilc nOTtn part OF the
tate, an extensive region, which has been ~
titled more than htlf a century, il which, it is n
M, no rats were ever seen. n
In the birds OF Vermont, considerable changes {,
ave tak'n place, since the settlement ot the
IuEiry, ia the number of individuals of th, II
Im+ species, at different peri, ds and there l.,
ave probably been also a wlthdrawa nf soma {,
'eces aud the substitution ofot ors or som, y
'eceS, which abnuujed when the country was "a
Nv, an individual Is now seldom, or nev,r f.
en while other species, which were then .,
1knnwn, have become exceedingly common IL
he American Cross bill, (Larit ,u~rir s.ri7) H.
nd red headed Wondpecker, (PicaS ergiiro- b,
I"0iaS) may be mentioned a. eX ,npes ut the n,
rmyr, and the Cha Swallow, (Hirundo Ellra il
the latter. Forty years ago, as well re, :
ombcr, the red headed woodpecker was one
the most common birds in our forests bat IN
Is now 50 rare that, while ! have travelled ex- in
nsively over the State, have hardly seen half b.
dozen in the last - years. On the other b.
md, cannot learn that clin- ,waow was m
'er seen in Vermont ill about the yetr 1917 III
1t they nov swarm in hundreds, bout the be
ives OF barns IN various parts of the State, 'e
w nile The SnPCIes Ol tho tun hiUhar 81, az