USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. I > Part 17
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The Thornback,t or Cunner, is a brown coloured, scaled Thornback. salt water fish, as large as a white perch, and is a good pan-fish. It has a horny, or thorned back, and is found in Casco bay and westward ; and weighs from 1 to 6 pounds.
The Toadfish§ is an ugly shaped creature, about as large as a sculpion, and shaped somewhat like it ; and is probably a mem- ber of the same family. It appears about the head and mouth like an old toad, with the addition of a coarse mossy beard ; has a large potbelly and small tail : feeds on plaice, flounders, and other small fish, and is found in our salt water harbours.
The Trout,|| also, must be mentioned as a fish of our fresh waters, particularly those of the Androscoggin.
Sunfish.
Toadfish.
Trout.
* Cottus quadricornis.
į Pisces rana.
t Clydopterus ? Į Raja Fullonica. I Troeta.
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THE FISHES
[INTRODUC.
The warm blooded, or cetaceous mammillary inhabitants of our waters are three, the Whale,* the Porpoise, t and the Seal. All these suckle their young.
Whale.
Whales, two centuries ago, were common in our waters, when Capt. Smith fished for them about our great bays. Such as we now see, are the Humpback, § which are the most common, being from 30 to 35 feet in length, severally yielding from 15 to 25 barrels of oil. The others, are the Grampus Whales, shorter, smaller, of less value and more frequently seen.
Black-fish.
The Black-fish, is from 15 to 30 feet in length; from 10 to 12 feet in circumference; and shaped like a whale, and has a large fin upon the back. One of a common size will yield half a dozen barrels of oil. It is a warm blooded fish, resembling the whale. When harpooned, it has been seen to take its young under its fluke, and carry it down into the depths of water.
Porpoise.
The Porpoise has always been common in our waters, and one of a middle size will weigh from 75 to 100 pounds, and measure from 5 to 7 feet in length. It has no gills ; but receives air through a single nostril, or " puffer," which is between its eyes. Its outside is without scales and smooth as velvet. The liver and lights, which are like those of a swine, are the only parts usually eaten, though the savages, with stouter stomachs, do not stop there.
Seal.
The Seal|| is found among the Islands and in the rivers of Maine, and was formerly very plenty. It has been taken at the head of tide-waters in the Penobscot ; and seen as high up as the Grand-falls. It is an amphibious animal, with flukes like fore paws, and with webbed feet near its hinder extremity ; its head, mouth and teeth are like those of a dog, its body is round and from 9 to 12 inches in diameter ; it brings forth and suckles its young like a land animal, and seems designed to form the connecting link between the two kingdoms, as the bat connects those of the beast and bird.
* Cete Balaona ? t Thursio. Į Phoca.
¿ ' The New-England whale has a hump on the back.'-Goldsmith. || Phoca. Vitulina.
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SHELLFISH.
AMONG the numerous inhabitants of our waters, the Shellfish Shellfish. seem to be formed under an inverted law of nature; for they, contrary to other animals, have their bony parts outside and their muscles within. Of these we have two classes, which the natur- alists call crustaceous and testaceous, or the soft and the hard shelled. Belonging to the former* are,-1. the Lobster ; 2. the Crab ; 3. the Shrimp ; and 4. the Cray-fish, which are of sofi. f Hard and
the Crab kind ; and 5. the Tortoise, whereof there are among us three species. Of those called hard shelled,t are, 1. the Oysters, 2. Muscles, 3. Cockles,# 4. Limpets, 5. Sea-snails :- Clams of several species, or rather several varieties, as, 6. Sea, 7. Hog, 8. Razor-shell, 9. Long-shell, and 10. Land-shell, Clams. Lobsters generate in salt water. They have claws, feelers, Lobsters. and teeth. Like insects, their mouth opens the long way of the body ; and like some plants, both sexes are in the same creature ; also, if a joint of the claw be broken off, another will grow out. They propagate by spawn ; and change their shell annually. Lobsters suit many palates ;- on our coast they are plenty.
The Crab is less in size than the lobster, and though like flavoured to the taste, it is much less esteemed by epicureans. Of this creature, we reckon three varieties : the sea Crab, the hermit, and the slender Crab.
Crab.
Of the Shrimp, owing to its smallness, little or no use is made, Shrimp. except for fishermen's bait. It is taken on our shores. It is shaped like a lobster.§
The Crayfish, or Crawfish!| differs so little from the lobster as Crawfish. to be called sometimes, the river lobster : since it will live com- fortably in fresh water, whereas the lobster's element is the sea. The best of Crawfish are found in considerable quantities in Moosehead lake.
The Tortoises are all amphibious ; " a land Tortoise will live Tortoise, and Turtle.
* 1. Cancer Astacus, 2. Cancer Piscinus .- 3. Cancer Squillus .- 4. Cancer -. 5. Testudo Denticulata .- 6. Testudo Carolina .- 7. Tes- tudo --.
+ 1. Ostrea .- 2. Mytilus edulis .- 3. Nerita littoralis .- 4. Patella fusca. -5. Matriculus, or Nautillus .- 6. Holothuria, phantaphus .- 7. Mya-aren - aria .- 8. Solen ensis .- 9. Solen radiatis .- 10. Sabella granulata.
# Cockles look like a snail, and are found on the flats.
§ A shrimp has a tough skin but no shell.
[ Cancer astagus.
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THE SHELLFISH
[INTRODUC.
Tortoise, and Turtle.
in the water, and a sea Turtle can be kept upon the land," yet they are divided into those of each element, where they prefer to stay. Our largest species is from the sea; it is sometimes made into soups, which are considered a treat, though it is a creature rarely taken in our waters. The mud Turtle and speckled land Turtle are too common to need description. But it is to be remarked of this animal, whatever be its size, that its scales or chequers on the back are always 13 in number : it has no teeth, its long jaws are more like knives, and when irritated it so fastens them upon its disturber, that the part seized is the trib- ute infallibly taken. It lives on vegetable food, seasoned and variegated with small insects. Its propogation is by eggs, which it lays in the sand, in large numbers, and which the genial warmth of the sun hatches. Tortoises, or turtles, like the frog, serpent, bat and swallow, lie torpid through the winter; yet it is ascer- tained their respiration is not wholly suspended, for in a close vessel without air, they in their torpor have been known to stifle, though not so soon as those in a state of vigour. They have been known to live a century, and not to die till several days after their head was cut off.
Oysters.
Oysters were originally plenty on our seaboard and on our salt water flats, as is fully evident from the great quantities of their shells seen remaining on the banks of Damariscotta river, St. George's river and in other places ; yet they are quite scarce at the present period. They are a harmless and pleasant food, except about spawning time in May, and will live many weeks after being taken from the water. The spawn when cast, looks like candle-drops, fastens to every thing it touches, and in three days is covered with a shell, and in three years, the creature is large enough for market.
Muscles.
Muscles are innumerable in our salt waters; perhaps from these little creatures, the Muscle ridges took their name-a nota- ble cluster of Islands at the mouth of the Penobscot bay. It is well known the muscle consists of two equal shells, joined at the back by a strong nervy ligament, forming a kind of hinge. It has a muscular fibre resembling a tongue, by which it can fur -. row the sand and make shifts to get along edgewise, till it reaches its object ; and then, with a glewy substance which it possesses, it can fasten itself there. Muscles are taken to eat (if ever) be-
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tween June and October. Like the Oyster, they are formed with the organs of life and respiration.
Clams, which, according to naturalists, belong, like muscles to Clams. the tri-valvular kind of shellfish, are plenty about our shores, and are often made an article of food, especially by the Indians. Of the three varieties mentioned, the one most peculiar is the razor-shell, or pivot, whose shape is like the haft of a razor, spotted Pivot. as a turtle-shell. All its motion consists in its ability to sink, or rise a foot down or up in the soft sand. There is a small funnel hole over the place where it buries itself, through which it breathes, or imbibes seawater. When the tide is out, a little salt put into the hole, will as it melts, induce it to rise above the ground half its length ; it must be instantly seized, for it will not be drawn out any more the same tide.
" All oysters and most shellfish are found to contain pearls* Pearls. larger or smaller." They are formed of matter connected with the shell, which is soft at first and hardens rapidly, exhibiting successive coats, layer over layer, not unlike the consistence of the onion. The pearl-oyster however, as such, has a large strong white shell, of a silver colour within, and elegant pearly appearance.f
VERMES.
OF these, many might be mentioned which belong to both Vermes. elements, land and water ; though they are not sufficiently known to be classified with much precision.
IN THE SEA-We find the Horseshoe, or King-crab, } of which there are three species; and all of them are small ill-shapen creatures inhabiting the salt water, and designed for the food of larger fish. The Squid, or Cuttle-fish§ is from 4 to 16 inches in length ; its tail shaped like the top of a coffee-pot ; its head is joined to its body by a kind of swivel, like that of a grashopper, and it has a bill resembling that of a parrot. It has large smel-
* 1. M. de Buffon, p. 57. This is doubted.
' The other shell-fish found in our waters are the nipple.fish, quahog, scallop, sea-spider, and perriwinkle.
# Monoculus Polyphemus [one eycd-genus] .- Monoculus Piscinus .- Monoculus Pulex .- Monoculus Quadricornus.
§ Sephia Media .- Sephia Caligo.
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VERMES
[INTRODUC.
Vermes.
lers, or feelers ; its back is covered with spots which have in their appearance the colour of iron-rust; and it possesses the singular power of changing its hue from an olive-brown to a dull white. Its flesh resembles, in its looks, beef tripe ; and it is well furnished by nature for self-defence or protection, for it possesses a jet black liquid, which, when alarmed, it squirts into the water, and with which it thus darkens it to such a degree as to screen itself from its pursuer. We find two species of this Cuttle-fish, as a Squid is sometimes called.
The Sea-urchin* resembles a chesnut burr, its back is covered with bony prickles ; its mouth is underneath ; the number of its horns and spines are very great ; its shell is hard, and its move- ments very slow. The Sea-eggt has a great affinity to it.
Of the Starfisht we have three or four species; each has a common centre resembling a wheel-hub, and from three to five branches like the fingers, in shape and colour of a man's hand ; and hence they are sometimes called " Fingerfish." The Sea- lungs are of like nature, only of different shape, taking their name from their appearance.
The Barnacles is much less than an oyster, and sticks fast to rocks and sometimes to the hulls of vessels : a cluster of them looks like a bunch of grapes. When the sea is calm, they will open the lids of their shells and seem to take a momentary look and then re-enclose themselves for a period of stupor.
ON LAND-We have two or three species of Snails, || one is without any shell; and that of the other is curious. They are propagated by eggs, and the young of the latter have shells on their first appearance. A Slug T is of the same nature.
We have among us, in summer, a variety of native Worms, a few of which we may mention, though they are seldom very troublesome. These are the Grub ;** the Earthworm ; tt the Brandling ; if the Angleworm ; §§ the Glowworm ; | Earwig ; TT Millepedes, or thousand legs ; timber Worm ; and others. These differ essentially from caterpillars; for they continue to be worms
* Erinaceus marinus, or whore's egg. + Asterias-caput-medusa.
Į Echinus. § Lepas anatifera. || Helix.
T Limax. ** Lumbricus. tt Vermis terrostris. # -?
¿¿ Vermis piscatorius. Cicindela. TT Forsicula aurelia.
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SECT. V.] OF MAINE.
during life, whereas, all caterpillars pass a chrysalis state and at length become insects.
We find several species of Leeches,* common here. They live in fresh ponds, though they are amphibious and will live on land. The mouth of each one is armed with an instrument like the body of a pump ; and the tongue, or fleshy nipple, is like the sucker-with this it draws blood.
REPTILES.
UNDER the name of Reptiles, we may mention three families ; Reptiles. the Frog, the Lizard, and the Snake ; which are not numerous in Maine, and generally harmless ; all except the Rattlesnake be- ing free of venom.
Of the Frog kindt are six species :- 1. the Toad ; 2. the pond Frog ; 3. the speckled Frog ; 4. the tree Toad; 5. the bull Frog ; and 6. the green Frog.
This race lives about 10 or 12 years, and comes to maturity in four. It is propagated by eggs in spawn, impregnated by the male at the time they are cast; and a female will produce from 500 to 1000 eggs at a time. The young, which are tadpoles at first, have legs in 95 days, and ever afterwards live on those insects and worms only which have motion. They always jump to sieze their prey, for they touch no lifeless insect. The tongue, as in the lizard and serpent, is extremely long, and lays its point down the throat. The male only croaks, and the music of this species has been ludicrously called the singing of " Dutch Nightin- gales." The Toad is harmless, never venomous ; always seek- ing obscure retreats for the sake of safety.
We sometimes see two species of the Lizard kind : the Newt, or brown Lizard, and the Swift .- Of a compound form between a snake and a frog, they are in aspect exceedingly for- bidding.
* Hirudo. t 1. Rana bufo .- 2. Rana ocelata .- 3. Rana macu- lata ?- 4. Rana arborea .- 5. Rana boans,-6. Rana esculanta.
# 1. Lacerta punctata .- 2. Lacreta fusciata .- N. B. The Crocodile is a species of this genus.
VOL. I. 12
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THE INSECTS
[INTRODUC.
Reptiles:
Eight species of Serpents* have been seen among us : viz. 1. the Rattlesnake ; 2 the black Snake; 3. the House; 4. the Water ; 5. the little brown Snake : 6. the Adder ; 7. the green and 8. the striped Snake.
Nothing need be said of either, so often are they seen and so entirely harmless are they all, except the Rattlesnake.
This creature is from 4 to 6 feet in length, and the venom it communicates when it bites is often mortal. Before it jumps to strike its prey, it gives a loud buzzing with a tremulous motion of the rattles on its tail, not unlike in sound, the singing of the locusts. In this way an alarm is taken and the danger avoided. They den in the winter, and lie torpid till spring. The first rattle grows when they are three years old ; to which another is added every year of their lives. Its wonderful ability to charm, or fascinate small animals, is too well attested at this day, to be any longer doubted .¡ Great numbers of the Rattlesnake have been taken on a hill of that name in Raymond, and in some other places in Maine ; but none have ever been seen east of Kennebeck river. The oil, or grease they yield is of great value for sprains ; and the slough, or shed-skin of these, or the others, when put into the ear, will make the head and the hearing extremely clear. The Rattlesnake is said to be the only creature found in the State which carries venom.
INSECTS.
Insects,
THE little animals usually called Insects, are those which have a joint, or swivel, in the middle of their bodies, and thus the fore and back parts are holden together by a strong ligament. No other order in nature, not all the plants themselves the earth pro- duces, can bear any just comparison in numbers, with the innu- merable myriads of this Insect-creation. Sometimes they are with us troublesome and destructive ; yet in general they are neither so large, greedy, nor numerous in this State as in south- ern latitudes. Entomology, which is truly a curious science, has
* 1. Crotalus horridus .- 2. Coluber constrictor. - 3. Coluber punctatus. 4. Coluber fasciatus .- 5. Coluber striatulus .- 6. Coluber saureta .- 7. Anguis eryx .- 8. Coluber sipedon, [Brown Snake.] sometimes seen.
+2 William's Hist of Vermont, appendix No. IV. It is not found in Europe, Asia, nor Africa.
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hitherto received too little attention from the scholars of our Insects. country : For what can be more interesting than the history of the bee, the ant, the butterfly and the spider ?*
All we can do here, is to classify a few of this innumerable race of mortals ; and we suppose those found in Maine, may be arranged under these generic heads, viz. 1. Beetles ; 2. Chir- pers ; 3. Bugs ; 4. Caterpillars ; 5. Butterflies ; 6. Bees ; 7. Ants; 8. Spiders ; and 9. Flies; and still there are others, such as the deathwatch, the mite and the father-long-legs, which are not sufficiently known to be correctly classified.
The Beetle is a flying insect, furnished with a case which it draws over its wings, to secure them from injury whenever it is digging holes in the ground or in rotten wood. The whole race have a great aversion to roses ; and make a humming noise when on the wing.
Of the Beetle class,+ 1. the horned Beetle has dark brown
* The Spider's web is considered a remedy for the Asthma, and possibly for the hydrophobia-taken in quantity, a scruple at a time .- Dr. Thach- er's Dispensatory, p. 396-399.
BEETLES.
+ 1. Scarabaeus Simson .- 2. Scarabacus Carolinus .- 8, Scarabaeus Ster- corarius .- 4. Scarabaeus Horticola .- 5. Scarabaeus Lanigerus ?- 6. Scara- baeus Ahineus ?- 7. Lucanus Cervus .- 8. Lucanus Interruptus.
Meloe Proscarabaes ; Oile Beetle .- Dermestes Lardarius; Bacon Beetle .- Dermestes Typographus ; Print Beetle .- Gyrinus natalor ; Water flea .- Dytiscus piceus ; Water Beetle .- Selpha vespillo; Fetid Beetle-Coccinel- la ; Lady-fly, Lady Cow, (or Lady Bird.)-Bruchus pisi ; Weevil .- Cur- culio quircus ; Snouted Weevil .- Cerambyx Coriarius; Capricorn Beetle or Goat Chaffer .- Lampyris Lucida ; Firefly or Lightning bug .- Buprestris mariana ; Cantharides, or Burn Cow .- Moleo nigra ; Blossom eater .- Forn- cula ; Earwig .- Blatta ; Mill beetle .- Staphylinus; several species, black, blue, or striped beetle, &c .-- Cassida ; Shield beetle.
CHIRPERS.
Gryllus ; Cricket, House cricket .- Gryllus Gryllotalpa ; Mole Cricket .- Gryllus Aquaticus. Water Cricket .- Locusta; Locust .- Cicada ; Gras- hopper, several species .- Cicada; Balm Cricket.
BUGS.
Cinex ; Bugs of several species .- Chermes ; Bugs on plants and trees .- Aphis ; Louse on plants and leaves.
CATERPILLARS.
Campe ; Naturalist suppose there are as many species of Caterpillars as there are plants, each feeding on its favourite one.
172
THE INSECTS
[INTRODUC.
Insects.
wings and horns, turning in towards each other ; sometimes vul- garly called the horn-bug : 2. the Carolina ; 3. the Dung-hill ; 4. Apple ; 5. Golden; and 6. brass Beetles, are all of one genus ; and 7. the Stag, and 8. the fluted Beetle, belong to another. The stag Beetle is the largest of the whole race among us, has six feet, coral coloured horns, and is more than an inch in length.
Of the chirping race, are the Locusts and Crickets, which are never numerous and always harmless. In dry seasons, the Gras- hoppers however, often appear in great multitudes, and are the greedy destroyers of the half-parched herbage. This was par- ticularly the case in the years 1743 and 1756, when they threat- ened to destroy every thing green.
With Bugs, Lice, and Worms, on trees and plants, the hus- bandman is oftentimes seriously troubled, especially in gardens. Our wheat and pea fields have been injured by a devouring Maggot ;* and, in the war upon these kinds of voracious crea-
BUTTERFLIES,
Papilio magnus; Great Butterfly .- Papilio Communis ; Common But- terfly .- Sphinx : Burnet Moth, and other species .- Phalaena .- Night Flutterer, or Miller.
BEES.
Apis ; two species, Bumble and Wild Bee : (The white-head Bumble [Humble] Bee carries no sting.)-Vespa ; Wasp; of which there are three species, black, yellow and blue .- Vespa Crabo; Hornet.
ANTS.
Formica; the Ant ; of which there are several species, as the great Pis- mire, the small, yellow, and black Emmets.
SPIDERS.
Aranea ; Spider ; several species, such as black, gray, wandering, gar- den, water, jumping, rose Spiders .- Linnaeus takes notice of only six Spi- ders; 1. the greatest ; 2. the house ; 3. the bag-bearing; 4. the water ; 5. the bud Spiders ; and 6. the Tarantula ; But in this he is evidently too limited.
FLIES.
Oestrus ; Ox-Gadfly, (size of a common bee.)-Lytta bittata ; Potato Aly, (looks like a Spanish Fly.)-Notonecta ; Waterfly .- Libellula ; Drag- onfly, or Horse-stinger .- Cynids; Oakapple Fly .- Tenthredo betulae ; Saw Fly .- Musca; black, and brown Fly .- Tabanus; Horsefly-Conops cal- citrans ; Stinging fly .- Culex pipiens , Musqueto,-Pulex ; a Flea .- Podu- ra nivalis ; a Snow Flea .- Linnaeus mentions more than thirty species of F.ies, many of which are unknown in this State.
* At maturity, it has been called the Hessian fly.
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tures, different expedients have been adopted to kill or check Insects. them. It has been said, that soaking the seed intended for sow- ing, or planting, in copperas water, or lime water, will be of much service.
Butterflies, especially in the eastern parts of Maine, are not numerous ; and, of course, we may infer as to the countless tribe of Caterpillars noticed by Linnæus, which become Butterflies and other insects, the numbers among us are not great. One kind of Caterpillar, has done our orchards in some seasons, great damage. This lays its eggs in the branches of the trees, early in the spring, from which are hatched a black insect called the Canker-worm, about an inch in length. Such are sometimes the troops of these ravagers, that by the 21st of June, when they disappear, they give the trees the appearance of having been stripped of their foliage by fire. They do not come every year ; and their ascent is prevented by girdling the trees with tar.
It is doubted if the Honey-bee is a native of this State, or of North-America. Joscelyn supposes hives of them were introduc- ed into this country from Europe. They flourish exceedingly well amongst us; and a bee-master is able to tell curious and entertaining stories, equally about their propagation, industry, and self-government.
The Humblebee, the Hornet, the black and yellow Wasps, are indigenous ; and seem to brave our cold winters without many fatal losses in their respective families.
Of the Fly class, the black Fly and the Musquito are the most troublesome. The former by day, and the latter by night, es- pecially near the borders of our woods, come forth in great num- bers to sate their greedy appetite, by extracts from the human body.
NOTE .- Naturalists say, as to the fecundity of animal nature, that in a year, a common fly will lay 144 eggs; a spider 170; a moth 1000; a frog or a tortoise 1000 ; a shrimp 6,000 ; a lobster 10,000; and a crab 100,000. So in different kinds of fish, there have been found in the milt of a her- ring, or a smelt, 35,000; in a roach 100,000; in a carp, a perch, or a mackerel, 300,000 ; in a flounder 100,000 and more :- and two naturalists have computed that a codfish produces 9,000,000 of eggs in a single season.
174
THE MINERALS SECTION VI.
[INTRODUC.
MINERALS.
Minerals in in general.
IN the mineral, as well as in the animal and vegetable depart- ments of nature, are noticed the most evident impresses and tra- ces of the Divine wisdom, power and goodness. Around us and under our feet, are various qualities of matter, which are, by dis- criminating knowledge and skilful management, wrought into articles of most extensive use and exquisite beauty. If, therefore, we were well acquainted with what is placed within our immedi- ate control or observation, as the resources of our own State ; we should probably find far less occasion to visit other countries, for obtaining what is either useful or curious.
The object of the present Section is to give a short account of the Minerals* found in this State-the science of which is highly interesting and important ; for it deals in materials near at hand, worthy of research and examination, and fraught with great benefits to the mechanic arts, and consequently to common life.
Kinds of Rocks.
According to geologists, we may mention as among us, eight kinds of Rocks,t viz. Granite, Gneiss, and Mica-slate, which are primitive Rocks ; Argillite, Limestone and Greenstone, which occur in primitive, transition and secondary Rocks ; Gray-wacke and Sandstone, the one of which is transition and the other sec- ondary rocks. These two, however, are rarely found in this State.
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