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come up to see me, tarried a few days. went home with him to his station, since cal he had a few men. I tarried there two week borough.

These two stations contained the country, which did not exceed in number one The company in our station continued to tra woods and wilds, choosing their lots of futu month of July, when I returned home to my f Carolina, and have not seen Kentucky since gretted.

I have been often solicited to make a publ but still declined. Until late, there appear newspapers, which is not correct.

I therefore thought it incumbent on me, as in possession of all the facts, to make this sta licity, which I know to be truth by hard ex may be the last solitary individual of that nur relation of that adventure.

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notice; so far as it could be done without interfering with their respective duties.

In the prosecution of the field work of the survey, daily, almost hourly, opportunities are afforded for the observation of interesting and valuable facts in the different branches of natural history; and these can be noted, and even collections made, without encroaching, in the slightest degree, on the time which ought to be devoted to the survey.

However humble such contributions may seem, when compared with the labors of naturalists in other States, where regular corps of scientific men, with ample appropriations, have been organized in connection with their geological surveys, still, it is believed they can not fail to be interesting to the lovers and cultivators of science generally, and valuable to our citizens at home, whose interests are quite as much involved in the things which live and grow upon the soil and in the waters around them as in the crust of rocks which supports them.

It is a fact, familiar to every observer, learned or unlearned, that the different kingdoms of nature illustrate one another. Describe to any well informed farmer the character of the soil of any particular section of country, and he will tell you the kind of natural vegetation which clothes it, and the agricultural crops best suited to it in its natural state or describe the vegetation, and he will tell you the kind of soil on which it grows and thrives. I say any well informed farmer -by which I mean those who observe what is around them. I have met, in the log cabins of our so-called "Egypt," with men who, probably, could not write their own names, but who knew more about the natural history of their district, and the capabilities of its scils, than four-fifths of those who are far above them in the scale of what is commonly called educated men those who learn a fact, but never observe it. If these farmers had been educated · had received all the advantages to be derived in some of the older States from their system of common schools-or even had had the advantage, in boyhood, of the old fashioned "three months winter schooling, and nine months ploughing, sowing, hoeing and harvesting," how much more available would their present knowledge be to them!

It is as much, then, to excite a desire for knowledge among the people of the State, particularly its youth, and to stimulate them to the acquisition of valuable facts in every department of natural history, that these contributions are offered, as for the information they may afford to professed naturalists.

The first of these contributions is now offered in the following catalogue of the Birds of the State, by Mr. Henry Pratten, whose extensive acquisitions in several branches of science, made while engaged daily in the ordinary vocations of life, may be emulated by every one having an occasional hour to spare from their common pursuits.

It may be well to state, that in the preparation of this catalogue no expense has been incurred by the State and such will be the case in relation to such other contributions in different departments of natural history as may be offered by other members of the corps.

At as early a date as practicable, a catalogue of our Forest Trees will be offered for your consideration.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your ob❜t sarv't.
J. G. NORWOOD, State Geologist.

Springfield, Jan. 16, 1854.

To J. G. NORWOOD, State Geologist:

SIR: The following catalogue of the birds of the State is, by no means, a complete one. With the exception of a few of the water birds, which were shot on the Ohio river, they were all obtained in the two counties of Wayne and Edwards.

HENRY PRATTEN.

CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF ILLINOIS,
By Henry Pratten,

Assistant in the State Geological Survey.

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GENUS AQUILA. Brisson.

2. Golden Eagle, Aquila Chrysaetos-Willoughby, Richardson & Swainson; Falco Chrysaetos-Linne. Wayne co.

GENUS HALIAETUS.

Savigne.

3. Bald Eagle, Hallaetus Leucocephalus-Aud.; Falco Leucocephalus-Linne; Aquila Leucocephala-Richardson & Swain

son.

GENUS PANDION.

Savigne.

4. Fish Hawk, Pandion Haliaetus-Selby, Wilson, Audubon. Wabash river.

GENUS FALCo. Linne.

5. Peregrine or Wandering Falcon, Falco Peregrinus—Gmelin, Richardson & Swainson, Nutt., Audubon. Wayne co. 6. Pigeon Hawk, Falco Columbarius - Linnæus, Bonaparte, Rich. & Swainson; F. Esalon-Swa. Wayne co. 7. Sparrow Hawk, Falco Spervarius-Linne.

GENUS BUTEO. Bechstein.

8. Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo Lagopus-Wilson; Falco NigerWilson; F. Lagopus-Bonap., Rich. & Swainson.; F. Sancti Johannes-Bonap.; Buteo Lagopus-Audubon. Wayne co. 9. Red-tailed Hawk-Buteo Borealis-Gmelin, Rich. & Swains.; Falco Leverianus-Wilson; Buteo Borealis-Audubon. wards county.

Ed

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10. Mississippi Kite, Ictinia Plumbea-Latham; Falco Mississippiensis-Wilson; F. Plumbeus-Bonaparte; Ictinia Plumbea -Audubon. Wayne co.

11.

GENUS NAUCLERUS. Vigors.

Swallow Tailed Hawk, Nauclerus Fulcatus-Vigors; Falco Furcatus Linne., Wilson, Audubon; Nauclerus FurcatusAudubon. Wayne county.

GENUS ASTUR. Cuvier.

12. Cooper's Hawk. Astur Cooperi-Bonaparte; Falco Stanleii-Aud.; Astur Cooperi-Aud. Wayne co.

13. Sharp Shinned Hawk, Astur Fuscus-Gmelin; Falco Pennsylvanicus-Wilson; Falco Velox-Wilson, Bonap.; Accipiter Pennsylvanicus-Rich. & Swainson; Astur Fuscus-Aud. 14. Winter Hawk, Astur Hyemalis-Bonap. Wayne co. GENUS CIRCUS. Bechstein.

15. Harrier or Marsh Hawk, Circus Cyaneus-Linne., Falco Cyaneus-Linne., Bonap., Nutt., Aud.; Buteo CyaneusRich. & Swainson; Circus Cyaneus-Aud.

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16. Snowy Owl, Surnia Nyctea-Linne.; Stryx Nyctea-Bonap., Nutt., Aud.; Surnia Nyctea-Aud.

GENUS SYRNIUM. Cuvier.

17. Barred Owl, Syrnium Nebulosum-Linne.

GENUS OTUS. Cuvier.

18. Short-cared Owl, Otus Brachyotus-Linne; Stryx Brachyotus-Bonap., Nutt., Aud.; Otus Brachyotus-Aud. GENUS BUBO.

Cuvier.

19. Great-horned Owl, Bubo Virginiana-Gmelin; Stryx Virginiana-Bonap., Nutt., Aud.; Bubo Virginiana-Aud. 20. Mottled Owl, Bubo Asio-Linne; Stryx Asio-Nutt., Aud.; Bubo Asio-Aud.

ORDER II. PASSERES.

Family I. Caprimulgidae.

GENUS CAPRIMULGUS. Linnaeus.

21. Whip-poor-Will, Caprimulgus Vociferus-Wilson.
GENUS CHORDEILES. Swainson.

22. Night Hawk, Chordeiles Virginianus-Wilson, Bonaparte-
Richardson & Swainson; Chordeilis Virginianus-Audubon.
Family II. Hirundinidae. Vigors.
GENUS 1. CYPSELUS. Linne.

23. Chimney Swallow, Cypselus Pelasgius-Linne., Bon., Nutt., Aud.; Chactura Pelasgia-Audubon.

GENUS 2. HIRUNDO. Linne.

24. Purple Martin, Hirundo Purpurea-Linne.
25. White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo Bicolor-Vieiliot.

26. Cliff Swallow, Hirundo Fulva-Vieillot. Wayne co.
27. Barn Swallow, Hirundo Rustica-Linn.; H. Rustica-Aud.;
H. Americana-Richardson & Swainson.
28. Bank Swallow, Hirundo Riparia-Linn.

Family III. Alcyonidae. Vigors.
GENUS ALCEDO. Linn.

29. Belted Kingfisher, Alcedo Alcyon-Linn.

Family IV. Muscicapidae. Vigors. GENUS MUSCICAPA.-Flycatchers. 30. King Bird, Muscicapa Tyrannus-Linn. 31. Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa Crinita-Linn. 32. Pewit Flycatcher, Muscicapa Fusca-Gmelin. 33. Wood Pewee, Muscicapa Virens-Linn. 34. Redstart, Muscicapa Ruticilla-Linn. 35. Phoebe, Muscicapa Phoebe-Latham. 36. Small Pewee, Muscicapa Acadica ---Gmelin. 37. Selby's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Selbii-Nutall.

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Edwards co.

38. Blue Grey Flycatcher, Culicivora Caerulea-Latham; Muscicapa Caerulea-Latham, Nuttal; Sylvia Caerulea-Bonap.; Culicivora Caerulea-Audubon. Edwards county. Family 5. Laniadae. Vigors. GENUS LANIUS.—Shrike.

39. Great American Shrike or Butcher Bird, Lanius BorealisVieillot, Richardson & Swainson, Nuttal; Lanius Septentrionalis-Bonaparte; L. Excubitor-Audubon; L. BorealisAudubon.

Vigors.

Family I. Merulidae.
GENUS TURDUS.-THRUSH.

40. Robin, Turdus Migratorius-Linn.; Merula MigratoriusRichardson & Swainson.

41. Wood Trush, Turdus Mustelinus-Gmelin.

42. Wilson's Trush, Turdus Wilsonii-Bonaparte. 43. Hermit Trush, Turdus Solitarius-Wilson.

GENUS ORPHEUS. Swainson.

44. Mocking Bird, Orpheus Polyglottus--Bonap.

45. Cat Bird, Orpheus Fellvox, Bon.; Orpheus Carolinensis--Aud. 46. Brown Thrush, Orpheus Rufus--Linn.

GENUS SEIURUS. Swainson.

Wagtail Thrushes.

47. Golden Crowned Thrush, Seiurus Aurocapillus-Nutt., Aud., and others. Edwards county.

48. Water Thrush, Seiurus Novaeboracensis

Gmelin; Turdus

Aquaticus-Aud.; Seiurus Aquaticus--Rich and Swainson.

GENUS ANTHUS.

Bechstein.

49. Brown Lark, Anthus Ludovicianus-Lichtenstein; A. Spinoletta-Bonap.; A. Pipiens-Aud., A. Ludovicianus-Aud.

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