Clark: May 1, 1805

May the 1st Wednesday 1805 We Set out at Sun rise under a Stiff Breeze
from the East, the morning Cool & Cloudy. one man J. Shields Sick with
rhumetismone of the men (Shannon) Shot a Gull or pleaver, which is
about the Size of an Indian hen, with a Sharp pointed bill turning up
& 4 Inches long, the head and neck of a light brown, the breast, the
underfeathers of the 2nd and 3d joint of the wings, the Short feathers on
the upper part of the 3rd joint of the wings, down the back the rump &
tail white. The large feathers of the 1st joints of the wing the upper
feathers of the 2d joints of the wings, on the body on the joints of the
wing and the bill is black.the legs long and of a Skie blue. The
feet webed &c. This fowl may be properly Stiled the Missouri Pleaverthe
wind became verry Hard and we put too on the L. Side, as the wind
Continued with Some degree of violence and the waves too high for the
Canoes we were obliged to Stay all day