Peter Kalm (March 6, 1716 , to November 16, 1779) was, born in an area considered both Swedish and Finnish at the time of his birth. He was a disciple of Linnaeus, and worked as a botanist, and explorer. One of his major books, considered a resource not just for his comments about American animals and plants, but also people, was titled: Travels into North America: containing its natural history And A circumstantial Account of its Plantations and Agriculture in general; with the civil, ecclesiastical and commercial state of the country, , The Manners of the 1nhabitants, and several curious and 1mportant Remarks on vanous Subjects . (1771). Here is an interesting excerpt -- Beavers were formerly abundant in New Sweden , [now southern New Jersey] as all the old Swedes here told me. At that time they saw one bank after another raised in the rivers by beavers. But after the Europeans came over in great number, and cultivated the country better, the ...