Christian County, Illinois - Chapter 6, 1880

N presenting a list of the animals of the county that 1^1 ISi' existed here prior to and after the advent of the white ' '" man, while the list may not be complete, it will, however, be of interest to the student and scientist. Of the riiminatuit; animals that were indigenous to this territor)', we had the American Elk (Cervus Canadensis), and still have the deer of two kinds, the more common, the well-known American deer (Cervus Virginianus), aud the White-tailed Deer (Cervus Lencurus). And at a period not very remote, the American Buffalo (Bos Americanus) must have found pastures near the alluvial and shaded banks of the Sangamon and plains aud prairies of this portion of tha State. The heads, horns and banes of the slain animals were still numerous in 1820. The Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) were quite numerous even in the memory of the older settlers. Bears have been seen in the county within the last thirty years. The Gray Wolf CCanis Occidentalis) and Prairie Wolf (^Canis latrans) are not unfrequently found, as is also the Gray Fox (Vulpes Virginianus), which still exists by its superior cunning. The panther (Felis coiicolor) was occasionally met with in the earlier times, and still later and more common, the Wild Cat (Lynx rufus). The Weasel, one or more species; the Mink (Putorius Vison); American Otter (Lutra Canadensis) ; the Skunk (Mephitis Mephitica) ; the Badger (Taxidea Americana); the Raccoon (Procyon Lotor); The Oppossum (Didelphys Virginiaua). The two latter species of animals are met with in every portion of the United States and the greater part of North America. The coonskin among the early settlers was regarded as a legal tender. The Bear and Otter are now extinct in the county, aud were valualile for their furs. Of the Squirrel family we have the Fox, Gray, Flying, Ground and Prairie Squirrel uScirus Ludovicauus, Carolineusis, Volucella, Striatus and Spermaphilus). The Woodchuck (Arctomys Monax) ; the common Musk Rat (Fiber Zibethicus). The Bats, Shrews aud Moles are common. Of the Muridre we have the introduced species of Rats and Mice, as also the native Meadow Mouse, and the Long-tailed Jumping Mouse (Meriones Labradorus), frequently met with in the clearings. Of the Hares, the (Lupus Sylvaticus) the so-called Rabbit, is very plentiful. Several species of the native animals have perished, being unable to endure the presence of civilization, or finding the food congenial to their tastes appropriated by stronger races. Many of the pleasures, dangers and excitements of the chase arc only known and enjoyed by most of us of the present day through the talk and traditions of the past. The Buffalo and the Elk have passed the borders of the Mississippi to the westward, never more to retuiii.

Of the Fiiili, the most common are the Cat, Bass and the Sunfish. The Perch, Pike and Buffalo are also occasionally met with. The common Carp Chub are numerous; the Bass is a game fish, aud affords fine s])ort.

sissippiensis), Mississippi Kite; (Buteo borealis), Ked-taileJ Hawk, (Haliatus leucocephalus), Bald Eagle; (Falco fulvius), Riug-tailed Eagle.

We give the following classification of birds into three divisions, as found in the "Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society " of 1876.

1st. Those of the greatest value to the fruit-growers, in dcstro_ving noxious insects, and which should be encouraged and fostered in every way.

Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers (small summer birds with plea.sant notes, seen in trees and gardens). Swallows, Vuros (small birds called green necks) All birds known as Woodpeckers except sap-suckers (Picus varius). This bird is entirely injurious, as it is not insectivorous, but feeds on the inner bark, cambium (and the elaborated sap) of many species of trees, and may be known from other Woodpeckers, by its belly being yellowish, a large black patch on its breast, and the top of its head a dark bright red. The males have also a patch of the same on their throats and with the minor margins of the two central tail feathers white. This bird should not be mistaken for the two other most valualde birds which it nearly resembles, to wit: - The Hairy Woodpecker, (Picus villiosii et vars); and the Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens et vans). These two species have the outer tail feathers white (or barred with black), and have only a small patch of red on the back of the head of the males. The Yellow Hammer or Flecker, (Colaptus auratus) is somewhat colored with yellow, and should not be mistaken for the sap-sucker. It is a much larger bird. The Red-headed Woodpecker, (Melanerpes 'rythrocephalus), sometimes pecks into apples and devours cherries, and should be placed in the next division, ('2d). The Wren, Ground Robin, (known as Cherwick), Meadow Lark, all the fly-catchers, the King Bird or bee-catcher. Whip-poor-will. Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewee or Pewit. All the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches, (Fringillida?), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black, AVhite and Brown Creepers, Maryland Warblers, Indigo Birds, Chirping Sparrow, Black-throated Bunting, Thrushes, except those named in the next class, and all domestic fowls except gee!e.

Which include those which have beneficial qualities, but which have also noxious or destructive qualities in the way of destroying fruits, and whose habits are not fully determined. (Thus the Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird are very valuable as cut-worm eaters, but also very obnoxious to the small fruit growers. The Jay (Blue Jay) not only destructive to grain and fruits, but very noxious in the way of destroying the nest eggs and young of smaller and better birds, Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird, Shrike or Butcher Bird, Red-headed Woodpecker, Jay Bird or Blue Jay, Crow and the small Owls (screech owls), Pigeons and Mocking Bird. )

Sap-sucker, or Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, (see abuvc), Baltimore Oriole, or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or Wax-wings (Anipclis cedrorum), Hawks and the larger Onls.