USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 43
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The mud turtle is of a blackish colour. Its length, from its snout, to the end of its tail, rarely exceeds fifteen inches, and its breadth five or six inches. Its tail is nearly half the length of . its shield, and is stretched out when it walks. Its neck and head are not over one-third the length of the shield. The shape of the head resembles that of a snake. The shield is a kind of oval. "The breast plate is shorter than the shield. The tail,
* Some of the foregoing remarks on birds, are taken from Nicholson's Ency- clopædia, American edition.
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legs, feet and neck are covered with a kind of scales. It has the power of distending, and retracting its head. tail and legs. These when retracted are covered by strong fleshy webs, re- sembling curtains. The size of this animal differs greatly ; some are much larger, and others much smaller than the di- mensions given above. In truth, it would be impossible to say what size it would attain under favourable circumstances, since the period of its existence nearly or quite equals that of man.
The mud turtle inhabits brooks, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes. They prefer the muddy places, because these abound more with rush grass, flags, pond lillies, &c. and afford them greater security from their enemies. They frequently come on land and make small excursions. Both elements seem indis- pensible to their existence. They subsist on fish, worms, snails, &c. The only sound it can utter is a kind of hiss.
On the approach of winter, turtles imbed themselves in the mud of some stream, pond, lake, or other collection of water, at or near the shore, where they fall into a state of insensibility, and appear in a deep sleep scarcely distinguishable from death. In this state the circulation of the blood is languid, and respira- tion slow and difficult. Thus circumstanced, they in general continue till the return of warm weather in spring, when they gradually recover motion, free respiration, and their former strength and vivacity.
In the month of March, 1822, we saw two mud turtles on the flat near the village of Hlerkimer, that had been removed about three-quarters of a mile by the waters, on the breaking up of the West Canada creek. They had burrowed in a small muddy pond, which was formerly a part of the bed of that creek, and had been washed up by the waters. Both were alive, but so feeble, that they could not walk, nor even distend their heads, legs and tails. Their heads, however, were just protruded from the web, or membrane which covered them, when retracted within the shell. The shields were covered with pastes of mud. There was also some mud on the breast plates, and between these and the shields. They seemed to be sensible of their helpless condition, but this was all : they had no power of In-
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commotion any more than stones. The weather was mild, but not sufficiently warm to give them vivacity.
The river turtle dwells in rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds, and occasionally grows to a large size. The following are the dimensions of one taken in the West Canada creek :--- the shield was thirteen inches in length, and eleven in breadth, and its length. from the point of its nose to the end of its tail, was two feet eight inches. Its weight sixteen pounds. In the Hudson, and some other waters of this State, the river turtle is much larger.
The shield of the river turtle is large, and the breast plate small. The former is blackish and the latter whitish. Its feet are each armed with five claws. . The shield and breast plate do not form a complete cover, as is the case with those of the mud turtle. Like the latter, it passes in autumn into the torpid state, in which condition it continues till revived by the warmth of spring. 1
Frogs-The tree frog, is so called, because it lias its habita- tion in trees. Its body is slightly compressed, elongated and smooth. Its tongue is short and thick; its two fore feet are furnished with four toes ; its hinder with five ; and all of them without claws; but terminated with lenticular tubercles.
Tree frogs breed in the water. In the pairing season, the male makes a loud, shrill, croaking noise. The croaking is louder in the evenings on the approach of rain. "There are several species. . In autumn tree trogs repair to brooks, creeks, rivers, pools, ponds and lakes, where they burrow in the mud, and remain torpid till the ensuing spring.
The common frog inhabits all parts of the State. Its body is thick, a little compressed, elongated, and covered with a few small tubercles; generally granulated below, except at the thor- ax, which is smooth ; on each side of the back, above the loins, there is in some species a longitudinal angular fold ; the tongue is short and thick ; the fore feet have four separate toes, with the thumb a little longer than the rest, in the male ; the hinder feet are almost always palmated, and are much longer than the body ; the toes are pointed, and have usually a small tubercle under each articulation.
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Common frogs inhabits swamps, marshes and bogs, and the borders of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. They breed in the . water. Both elements seem necessary to their existence .-- Frogs can remain for hours, and even days, under the water. It seems that in this respect they have the power of suspending the respiratory organs.
They make their appearance in spring, immediately after the snow has gone off, and the frost come out of the ground. Their appearance is announced by their croaking at night.
On the approach of cold weather in the fall, they retreat to the bottoms of ponds, lakes, streams and rivers, and inhume themselves in the mud, and then fall into a state of torpidity, from which they do not arise till spring.
Frogs subsist, for the most part, on worms and insects. The common frog varies considerably in size. Those found in mar- shes and stagnant waters are larger than those found in swamps.
The bull-frog is much larger than the last species, and abounds in many parts of the State. Its sounds has a faint re- semblance to the lowing of a bull, and are heard a considerable · distance. Like the common frog, on being surprised, it makes two or three leaps, and plunges into the water, where it is se. cure from molestation. They usually dwell in marshy and , boggy places, around lakes, ponds, and other stagnant waters, fringed with rush grass, pond lillies, and flags. The outlets of Ballston and Saratoga lakes furnish two good examples.
There is another species of frog, which is rather smaller than the common frog. Its body is more slender, its head is longer, and its nose more pionted. The colour of its body is brown. and belly a light grey. Its feet are webbed. It lives in swamps, marshes, meadows, and other moist places. It is more agile and active than any of the other members of the frog family.
Toads-We are acquainted with but three kinds, the brown, black and yellow.
The land toad differs greatly in size, some equalling the bull frog, while others are less than the common frog. It is of a brownish colour on the head, back, sides, and the exterior of its
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legs ; its throat, neck, belly, and the interior of its legs, are a light grey, with some white, forming a mottled colour. The body and legs are short and thick : the fore feet have four toes, - and the hinder five, all furnished with small nails. The head, neck, back and sides, are tuburculated, or full of nobs. The toad is a dull animal. It is common to uplands. It lives on flies and insects.
. Upon the approach of cold weather, it secludes itself under rocks, or in the earth, where it falls into a lethargy, in which state it continues till spring. 1
These animals will, when unmolested, reside in the same plare several years.
The water toad, or swamp toad, is smaller than the common frog. It is of a pale yellowish colour. Its body and legs are , slender. It is nimble and sprightly. It inhabits swamps and . marshes.
All of the preceding animals pass about one half of the year 'in torpidity ; a state, comparitively, but a single remove from · death.
" There are some well authenticated accounts in natural his- tory, of toads being found enveloped in trees and rocks. In the memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences, there is an ac- count, that in the year 1731, a toad was found in.the heart of an old oak tree, near Nantz, without any visible entrance to its habitation. From the size of the tree, it was concluded, that the toad must have been confined in that situation at least eighty . or one hundred years. When taken it soon became reani- mated.
" In Vermont, frogs have been found buried in the earth at considerable depths. At Windsor, on Connecticut river, a living frog was dug up, at the depth of nine feet from the sur- face of the earth. The place was about half a mile from the river, on intervale land, which is annually overflowed.
" At Castleton, in 1779, many frogs were found at the depth of five or six feet below the surface. They were torpid when taken out of the ground, but 'on exposure to the air, they soon showed symptoms of animation, and became lively and active.
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" In the year 1788, on digging a well at Burlington, a short distance from Onion river, several frogs were found at the depth of twenty-five or thirty feet from the surface of the earth. At first the labourers thought them to be ground- nuts, or stones, covered with earth. Upon examining these appearances, they were found to be frogs, to which the earth every where adheared. The examination was then made of the earth in the well where they were digging. A large number of frogs were found covered with the earth, and so numerous, that several of them were cut in pieces by the spades of the workmen. Being exposed to the air, they soon became active ; but unable to endure the direct rays of the sun, the most of them perished. From the depth of earth with which these frogs were covered, it cannot be doubted, but that they must have been covered over in the earth for many ages, or rather centuries. The timber on the adjacent land, had grown very large; a pine tree, not far from the well, was more than twelve feet in circumference. The appearances denote that the place from whence these frogs were taken, was once the bottom of a channel or lake, formed by the waters of Onion river. . In digging the same well, at the depth of forty-one feet from the surface, the workmen found the body of a tree, eighteen or twenty inches in diameter, partly rotten, but the biggest part sound. The probability is, that both the tree and the frogs were once at the bottom of the channel of a river or lake ; that the waters of Onion river, constantly bringing down large quantities of earth, gradually raised the bottom ; that by the constant increase of earth and water, the water was forced over its bounds, and formed for itself a new channel, or passage in its descent into Lake Champlain."
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Williams' History of Vermont, vol. 1, pages 152, 153, 154.
LIZARDS.
There are several species of lizards in this State. We shall enumerate the following :-.
The brown lizard is from seven to nine inches in length. It inhabits swamps and streams. Its skin is smooth. The head
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is triangular, resembling that of a snake; the nose is long ; the neck small ; the tail long, nearly or quite equalling the body. Its legs are short, and it walks with difficulty. When the water, it swims with some celerity. Both elements are necessary to its existence. .
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The yellow lizard, called by some the copper-coloured lizard, is less than the preceding. , Its form is very similar to that of the brown. They live in swamps, marshes, and other wet · places. Its back is marked with lines of dark spots.
The striped lizard is four or. five inches in length. Its co- lour is red and white. The former colour predominates. This species dwells wholly upon the land, and is usually found under old logs, brush, leaves, and other rubbish. In the forests they are numerous.
Lizards, on the approach of cold weather, burrow in the mud, or under logs and rocks, where they fall into a stupor, or state of insensibility, from whence they do not arise before warm weather, in the ensuing spring, resembling, in this respect, the turtle, the frog, and the toad.
SERPENTS.
'The rattle-snake is from two and a-half to four feet in length, and of a yellowish brown colour. The rattles are fixed at the end of the tail, and are composed of dry and hollow bones, nearly of the same form and size, connected by joints. It is said that it has an additional bone, or -ring, every year ; but be this as it may, the number varies from three to twenty, and upwards. The rattle-snake moves slowly, and seldom bites un- less provoked by wounding, or otherwise. Its bite is not only poisonous, but fatal, and has been known to occasion death in a few minutes. The teeth with which it indicts the deadly wound, are two in number, and situated in the upper jaw. It never uses these teeth but when irritated. They are crooked, long, sharp, slender and hollow, and perforated at the points. The poison is contained in glands, which lie over the roots of the teeth. These glands being compressed in the act of bit. VOL. I. 65
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ing, force the poisonous liquid through the hollow of the teeth, into the wound, whence it enters the blood, and is diffused through the whole system.
The rattle-snake, before it bites, throws itself into a coil, or spiral figure, with its head erected from eight to twelve inches, and then darts at the object of its vengeance.
They make their appearance in spring, after the commenc- ment of hot weather, and disappear in the early part of Sep- tember. They retire into dens, caverns and cavities in the. rocks, where they pass into the torpid state, and remain till roused by the vernal heats.
They do not inhabit all parts of the State, but certain dis- tricts. 1
They are found on Long Island and Manhattan Island ; in some parts of the Highlands ; around the head of Lake Cham- plain ; at and around Lake George ; at Glenville, in the coun- ty of Schenectady ; at the Nose, in the county of Montgomery; along some parts of Unadilla and Susquehannah rivers; at Lenox and Sullivan, in the county of .Madison ; at Manlius and Onondaga, in Onondaga county ; in some parts of the county of Ontario; along Genesee and Niagara rivers ; and in many places in the Oak lands, between those rivers, and also east of the former ; at several places along the Schoharie creek ; at the Heldeberg, in the county of Albany; at Snake Hill, near Newberg, and in some other places. They have a predeliction for oak lands.
In some of the districts and tracts mentioned, they were very numerous before improvments were made ; but the num- bers have been greatly reduced since then, by man, swine, and the conflagrations incidental to clearing lands. In some in- stances, several hundreds have been killed in the spring, at a single den. The usual mode, after finding a den, is to go to it in a hot day, and lie in wait till they come out to bask in the sun, and then sally upon them, and kill them. Some years ago, three hundred were destroyed in this way, at a den near the head of Canandaigua lake : fifteen hundred have
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been killed, in one season, around Lake George, and mostly in this manner.
They swim across, rivers and lakes, and occasionally make excursions of four or-five miles. They have also been known to emigrate from one place to another.
It is not known how many young the female has at a time, 'nor is it known whether she produces oftener than once in a year or not. From twenty to thirty eggs have been frequently found in such as have been killed. Judging from this, the number of the young cannot fall much, if any, short.
The rattle-snake is capable of long abstinence. It has been known, when confined, to live five or six months without meet or drink, or any sustentation whatever. In most instances, and as far as we have been able to learn, it utterly, when in cap- tivity, refuses food and drink. We have seen some that had · been confined upwards of four months, and had taken no sus- tenence ; yet they had lost very little flesh, and seemed to' possess nearly the same activity as though at large.
The rattle-snake is found in all the United States, from latitude forty-four or five, southwardly. There are several species, but the one we have described, is the only one found in this State.
The rattle-snake has been so far domesticated as to be hand- led by its keeper, and made to perform several tricks; but it - is an extremely dangerous animal, and bas seldom failed to bite its master.
The pilot is found in some of the southern counties, border- ing on New-Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is less than the . preceding. Its bite is said to be equally poisonous. By some, this snake is called the copper-head, and by others, the rattle- snake's mate. They are numerous in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The small brown adder is about a foot, and in some in- stances, fifteen inches in length. Its bite is poisonous. On the approach, of danger, it throws itself into a spiral figure, flattens its body, and changes colour, appearing spotted. It inhabits rocky places.
'The house adder is much larger. Its bite is fatal, unless medical aid be called in.
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The water adder inhabits wet places adjoining streams, rivers; ponds and lakes. It hives partly on land and partly in the wa- ' ter, both elements being necessary to its existence.
The black snake inhabits various parts of the State; it, how- ever, is found mostly in the southern and southeastern counties. It is of various lengths, being from three to five or six feet. It is slender, and of a shining black, except the belly, which is whitish. It runs with great celerity, holding its head a foot or fifteen inches high. . It ascends small trees and bushes, by twining itself around their trunks, and perches upon the limbs. It sub- sists on frogs, toads, mice, squirrels, birds, &c. It is not poisonous.
Besides the black snake above mentioned, there is another species of black snake, which is from two and a-half to three, or three and a-lalf feet in length. It is much thicker, in pro- 'portion to its length, than the foregoing. Its movements are slow. It is not poisonous.
The striped snake is from one foot six inches to three feet in lengthi, and slender. Its name is derived from its colour. It is the most common of all the snakes, and is found in every part of the State. It is harmless. The colour of its belly is whitish, tinctured with green. Its back and sides are black and white, disposed in lines. The black lines are much the broadest. On being overtaken, it turns and faces its enemy, throwing its body in a spiral form, and flattening itself, it be- comes spotted ; at the same time it opens its mouth and darts its head, displaying its forked tongue. It lives on toads, frogs, mice and other animals. Like others belonging to the serpen- · tine tribe, it will swallow an animal twice or thrice its own di- ameter. It then becomes almost helpless, being scarcely able to quit its position, till its digestive organs have macerated, softened, and disposed of the animal which it had inhaled.
The green saake is less than the striped snake. It is found "in swamps. It derives its name from its colour. It is inof- fensive.
The red bellied snake is found in swamps and marshes. It , is not very common. In size it falls short of the green snake.
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Its belly is red, and its back and sides are brown. The brown is not every where the same, being variable, and of different A shades.
The milk snake is from three to four feet in length, and moderately slender. The colour of its back and sides is a lightish brown, with some white, giving it a banded appearance.
The water snake - dwells in creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes, bordered by marshes.
All animals belonging to the serpentine order, retire very early in autumn to dens and' cavities in the earth, where they insensibly pass into the torpid state, and continue in it till' re- animated by the vernal heats. Rattle-snakes repair to dens in larger numbers than any of the other kinds. In spring, after a succession of warm days, they are known to come out and expose themselves to the genial warmth of the sun, for several day's in succession, before they separate and take their depar- ture for the season. They lie at first in heaps, are languid, and possess but little animation. By and by they regain their strength and vivacity, and quit their retreat. Sometimes, how- ever, they are overtaken by cold, and relapse again into the same state from whence they had just come. The striped snake appears earliest and latest, being seen as early as the first of April, and as late as the twenty-fifth of October, in some years.
The appearance of these animals depends very much upon the season. If the weather is warm, it requires but a few days to summon them from their hybernation.
' Different kinds of snakes have, in some instances, been known to take up their hybernation in the same cavity, den, or place, and spend the winter together in the torpid state.
We shall conclude this chapter with some observations on the fish found in the waters of this State.
Shad-These fish, in April and May, ascend the Hudson, Delaware and Susquehannah rivers, and their branches., The greatest numbers are found in the Hudson. ' At present they go up no farther than the dam at Troy. Formerly they pro- ceeded as high as Baker's Falls, above Fort Edward.
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During their run, and for some weeks after, great numbers are caught in nets. The fishing grounds of the Iludson are extensive.
Ilerring-These fish also run up the Hudson as far as the dam at Troy, and are taken in considerable numbers.
Before the waters of the Hudson were obstructed by dams, they 'passed up to Baker's Falls, They formerly visited Sara- toga lake in large numbers. 1
The shad and herring never came up the Delaware and Susquehannah in such numbers.
In former times, the shad as well as the herring, went up the Susquehannah, to Otsego lake, its source.
Sturgcon-These fish ascend the Hudson in considerable ' numbers. They are commonly taken by spearing.
Salmon-This fish, it is said, formerly abounded in the Hud- son. Captain Henry Hudson, in his journal, remarks, there are great plenty of salmon in this river.
Mackerel-Several species of this fish, are caught in the seas and ocean adjoining the State.
Bass-This fish is taken in all its varieties in the seas and ocean, neighbouring upon the State.
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Cod-All the species belonging to this genus, are caught in the ocean bordering the State. They, however, are not nu- merous.
Whale-This fish is occasionally seen and taken on the coast. Formerly, considerable numbers inhabited the ocean neigh- bouring to Long Island.
The dolphin, porpoise, sword fish, &c. are also found in the same ocean.
Sharks-Of these there are several kinds in the seas and bays of this State.
Lake Salmon-This fish inhabits lakes Champlain, Ontario 'and Erie.
The salmon of these lakes are different from those of Con- necticut river, &c. They live all the year in fresh water.
Before mill dams were constructed on the streams running into.
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Lake Champlain, the salmon ascended most of them. At pre- sent, they run up only such as are unobstructed. In this State, they still go up Sable river, and some other streams. . In for- mer times, great numbers went up the Saranac.
The best salmon fisheries are these of Lake Ontario, Big Sal- mon river, and the Oswego, and its branches. In the former stream, they ascend as far as the falls, in the town of Orwell. In the latter, they run up the Oneida river and lake, and from thence into the streams that fall into that lake ..
Salmon are also taken in Little Salmon river, Big and Little Sandy creeks, and the mouth of Black river.
· Salmon river, however, affords the best fishing grounds. Several thousand barrels are every year packed on the banks of this stream. They are caught in the spring and fall.
Salmon trout, a fish little inferior to the salmon, abounds in the same lakes, and also in Lake George, and many of our other lake's. They weigh from three to thirty-three pounds.
Trout-This fish is found in most of the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds in the primitive tracts. There are several kinds. In size, they vary from half a pound to three or four pounds.
Trout are also found in some of the waters in the transition and secondary tracts.
Pike-This fish is found in lakes Erie, Ontario, Champlain, George, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, &c. and in the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, and some of our other rivers and streams. It. is an excellent fish. Its dimensions vary considerably. In some of the lakes, it occasionally weighs from twenty to thirty pounds. In the Mohawk, and some other streams, its usual weight is between two and four pounds ; instances now and then occur of its exceeding twelve pounds. The pike is very voraci- ous, devouring all the smaller fish which it can sieze.
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