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There is a tradition, grounded on a paffage Joffelyn's voyage to New England, and repeated by Gordon, in his geographical grammar, of a scarlet mufcle, found in the river Pascataqua, in which is a vein, yielding a scarlet liquor, which affords an indelible stain to linen. Having made inquiry, I have not heard of this muscle, nor the place (Baker's cove) where it is faid to have been found. Mr. PECK, who is curious in his inquiries into the natural history of the country, has affured me, that the fanies of many teftaceous marine animals 'will give the fame tint. There is a species of the buccinum, or white cockle, which is very commonly found on the shore, and not confined to any particular place, which being 'broken, and the fanies taken up with a hair 'pencil, will mark linen with a fine and du'rable crimfon. The colour is obferved to vary from its original yellow, to green, blue, 'purple, and crimfon, which is its ultimate change.'

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Vaft beds of muscles appear in the river at low water, which are never used but might be taken out, and laid as manure on the adjacent lands.

Of the immenfe variety of infects, with which both the land and fea abound, it is impoffible to to give a particular defcription. There is an ample range for the curious naturalist,

both

both on the sea shore, in the open land, and in the thick woods; but if he engages earneftly in the purfuit, it may be advifeable to defend himself, after the manner of the Indians, by fmearing the expofed parts of his body with the oyl of the beaver.

The common BLACK FLY is not a native of the country, but was brought in ships from the West Indies. The fame may be faid of the COCHROCH, which has not yet quitted the maritime towns. The BUMBLE BEE is undoubtedly a native; but it has been doubted whether the HONEY BEE is, or is not. That several species of the honey bee were known in Mexico, before the Spanish invafion, appears from the tribute-rolls, and other historical paintings of that empire; but it is probable that bees were first brought into thefe northern parts, from Europe. Joffelyn is the only writer who mentions them, and this was his opinion, with which tradition concurs. They have multiplied exceedingly, and are frequently found in a wild state, enclofed in the trunks of hollow trees, in all parts of New-Hampshire as far northward as the State is inhabited, which is 44° 40' of north latitude. They chiefly delight in the neighbourhood of cultivation, as they derive their principal food from the labors of man.

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The

The Caterpillars lay their eggs on the branches of apple trees, and, being hatched by the warmth of the fpring, they form clusters, and inclose themselves in a web, whence they iffue forth in queft of food, and destroy the leaves of this and other trees; but the moft formidable enemy to the apple tree, is the canker worm. It comes out of the ground early in the fpring, and afcends the tree in the shape of a white winged infect, where it depofits its eggs, which, being hatched by the genial warmth of the season, are converted into millions of black worms, about an inch in length. These strip the tree of its verdure, and, by the middle of June, it has the appearance of au.tumn. While engaged in this mischief, if the tree be ftruck or thaken, each worm defcends to the ground by a thread, fpun inftantly from its bowels, and afcends, by the fame rout, when the danger is over. By the 21ft of June, they difappear; the tree puts forth new leaves, but bears no fruit. The beft way of guarding against them, is by putting a circle of warm tar round the trunk of the tree, and renewing it every day, during the time of their afcent; this arrefts and confines them, till they perith. They were not known in New-Hampthire till about twenty years paft, and there are fome parts which they have not yet reach ed. They do not appear every year,

but

there

there is no regular interval between their арpearances, nor is the cause of the interruption known.

Befide thefe, there is another fpecies, which comes but once in many years, and destroys the corn and grafs, as well as leaves of trees. Their laft appearance was in 1770. It was obferved that they did not touch the leaves of elder. From obfervations of this kind, a hint was taken to make use of elder, and especially the dwarf elder, as a means of preferving the feeding leaves of young efculent vegetables, and even the branches of trees, from being deftroyed by infects.

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CHAP.

CHA P. XI.

Caverns, Stones, Foffils, and Minerals.

THE

HIS chapter muft be extremely imperfect, as many parts of the country are yet unexplored; and of thofe which are known the knowledge, is mostly confined to the furface and its vegetation. Such things however as have occurred, fhall be noticed.

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Among the many rocky mountains and ipices, fome openings appear, which are generrally fuppofed to be the haunts of bears and rattle snakes; and are rather objects of dread than of curiofity. A particular defcription of one of thefe caverns in the township of Chester, by Peter French, an ingenious young gentleman, deceased, fhall be given in his own words.

At about five miles diftance from Chester *meeting houfe, and very near the road leading 'to Concord, is an eminence called rattle fnake hill. Its bafe is nearly circular, and about half a mile in diameter. It is very ragged, efpecially on the fouthern fide; where it is almost perpendicular; and its fummit 'frowns tremendous, about 400 feet high. In this fide, at the height of ten yards, is an aper

ture