West Va April 1874 165 1874 Grafton to Petroleum, West Virginia. April 25 ride about the valleys to the height of 100 feet or more with their sides almost perpendicular, bush showing from it that rugged variety & beauty of outline so characteristic of Mr & N. H. hills, & and differing in another important feature, namely in the total absence of any of the coniferous trees. At one place indeed we did see a few white pines & hemlocks but every where else the growth was entirely beech oak & other hard wood trees continuum to me. The sides of these ridges are excessively steep, & so much so that very often one sees smooth slides from the woodcutters as in the habit of sliding down logs to the valley beneath. Rocks of any size and very scarce and there is hardly any underbrush or fallen log indeed nor it not for the steepness of the slopes one might ride through the woods almost anywhere on horseback. Very few birds were seen all day. At one place we heard the song of the Cardinal for the first time at another South saw a J & Cy. cyana & I saw near Grafton a Sandron Car sailing about over the stream Arrived in P at 5.30 & our warmth welcomed by S.