Day-by-Day / December 18, 1805

December 18, 1805

The gray jay, new to science

Fort Clatsop, Astoria, OR Several men bring in planks taken from an old Indian fishing camp across Youngs Bay. Lewis describes the gray jay and on or near this day, compares it with the steller’s jay.

Too Cold and Wet

rained and Snowd alternetly all the last night, and Spurts of Snow and Hail Continued untill 12 oClock, which has chilled the air which is Cool and disagreeable, the wind hard & unsettled— The men being thinly Dressed and mockersons without Soks is the reason that but little can be done at the Houses to day—
William Clark

‘Borrowing’ Some Indian Planks

some of our party were sent across the River or bay with Canoes, to bring plank. They returned towards evening with the Canoes loaded with plank, which they had got at an Old Indian fishery.
Joseph Whitehouse

Gray Jay, New to Science

This day one of the men shot a bird of the Corvus genus, which was feeding on some fragments of meat near the camp. this bird is about the size of the kingbird or bee martin, and not unlike that bird in form.
Meriwether Lewis

Steller’s Jay

the size & the whole Contour of this bird resembles very much the blue jay or jaybird as they are called in the U’ States. like them also they seldom rest in one place long but are in constant motion hoping from spra to spray.
—Meriwether Lewis, undated note

Weather Diary

Day of the Month Winds State of the Weather
18th S E Cloudy after rain snow hail

rained Snowed and hailed at intervales all the last night and to day untill meridian.
—Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has spelled out some abbreviations.

 

Notes

Notes
1 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has spelled out some abbreviations.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.