Piatt County, Illinois - Chapter 4: Fauna of Piatt County, 1883

"T)B,OBABLY but few of the inhabitants of the county appreciate the value of a knowledge of its natural history. We are apt to look upon the study of insects, birds and plants as a pastime, rather than as a useful and profitable employment ; but the sooner we become acquainted with nature the sooner will we be prepared to utilize her bounties and obtain the greatest benefits from the advantages she offers us, and to meet difficulties with nature's own means. For instance : a few years ago, about 1854, there first appeared in the county an insect known as the "potato-bug." It gradually increased in numbers until the raising of pocatoes was almost an impossibility. "Bug pickers" and paris-green «vould never have annihilated the pest, for there were enough who did not care to spend the time and means to preserve the crop and so surrendered their potato-patches as breeding-grounds. While bugpickers and poison were doing their feeble work, there came to our relief two or th'ree species of insects that silently did a powerful work, and now have almost rid the country of that pest. It is true the little "lady-bug" and squash-bug have done their work of destroying eggs and young potato-beetles in spite of our indifference to them, but may it not be that in many cases we may assist these insect friends by becoming acquainted with them? Many birds, as the quail and swallow, destroy millions of chinch-bugs, flies, etc., every season. . The poor snake is persecuted on every hand, because of the curse laid upon him in the Garden of Eden, in spite of the fact that he has labored faithfully ever since that time, destroying thousands of mice, grub- worms and insects every year. If we could overcome our prejudice for these unfortunate creatures, and instead of ruthlessly killing every one we see, let him go his way in peace, we would assist very greatl}7 the means nature offers us in destroying pests to crop raising.

The rattle-snake is the only poisonous serpent in the state, in spite of those blood-chilling names so miscellaneously applied, as adder, viper, copperhead, etc., and now there are very few rattle-snakes in the state. These are some of the practical purposes for which we should become better acquainted with the animal life of the county. Then there is another side, in cultivating observation, comparison, and appreciation of life, but we will leave that side for our schools and leisure hours, and look "only to the practical side.

Before the county was settled the buffalo and black bear might have been found on the prairies, or in the forests along the Sangamon, when the red man alone claimed the soil ; but they have all fled at the approach of civilization, leaving only trails, bones, etc., to tell of their existence here. The Virginia deer were not all exterminated until a few years ago. In 1869 a deer was run through the public square of Monticello. Badgers also were found when the first settlers came, but have all disappeared. As early as 1833 there disappeared a beautiful bird of the parrot family, Carolina parroquet, and the wild turkey now found in many parts of the state was once an inhabitant of the county. The Canada lynx and wild cat were found up till 1860 and the wild boar was abundant formerly.

Sciuridye. - Squirrels. Flying squirrel, Sciuropterus volucella; fox squirrel, Sciurus niger ; gray squirrel, S. carolinensis ; chipmunk, Tamias striatus ; striped gopher, Spermopilus tridecernlineatus ; gray gopher, S. franklinii ; woodchuck, Arctomys monax.

The number of species of birds found in the county during the year is too great to give here, except a few of the most important. There are a great many birds that pass through the country in the migrating season, stopping only a few days to take food, but as they come and make us a visit once or twice a year, we may regard them as part of the fauna just as well as those that come to remain all summer and rear their young. Not half enough can be said in favor of these little songsters that come every spring to help the farmer by destroying insects, worms, etc. There are perhaps one or two exceptions to this, and perhaps only one worthy of mention : I refer to the English sparrow. It is becoming a great nuisance everywhere. These birds live upon grain instead of insects, and are driving out the useful birds. The streets of our towns and cities are full of these little brown robbers, and it is quite probable that before long means will have to be taken to destroy them.

Turdidse, Thrush family. - Robin, Turdus migratorius ; Hermit, thrush, T. pallasi ; olive-backed thrash, T. swainsoni ; brown thrush, Harporhynchus, rufus ; mocking bird, Mimus polyglottus ; cat bird, M. carolinensis.

Hyrundinidse. - Barn swallow, Hirundo horreoruin ; eave swallow, Peterochelidon lunifrons ; bank swallow, Cotyle riparia ; purple martin, Progne subis.

Fringillidae (finches). - Wild canary, goldfinch, Chrysomitris tristis ; English sparrow, Passer domesticus ; lark finch, Chondestes grammaca ; field sparrow, Spizella pusilla ; chippy, Spizella socialis ; song sparrow, Melospiza melodia ; swamp sparrow, Melospiza palustris ; snow bird, Junco hyemalis ; fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca ; black-throated bunting, Euspiza americana ; indigo bird, Cyanospiza cyanese ; ground robin, Pipilo erythophthalmus.

Icteridse. - Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus ; cow-bird, Molothrus pecoris ;: red-winged blackbird, Ageleeus phoeniceus ; meadow lark, Sturnella magna ; Baltimore oriole, Icterus baltimore; orchard oriole, I. spurius; rusty grackle, Scolecophagus ferrugineus ; purple grackle, Quescalus purpureus.

Falconidse. - Sparrow hawk, Falco sparverius ; chicken hawk, Accipiter cooperi ; hen hawk, Buteo borealis ; golden eagle, Aquila chryssetus.

Lamellirostres Anatida?. - Brant goose, Branta bernicla; Canada goose, B. Canadensis ; mallard duck, Anas boscha ; blue-winged teal, Querquedula discors;. green-winged teal, Xettion carolinensis ; wood duck, Aix sponsa.

Of reptiles, fishes and insects, and the lower forms of animal life, such a limited number of species have been identified that we can notice only a few without giving even a partial list.

There are no lizards, but there is a lizard-like reptile called a salamander (Amblystomea punctatum), and which is usually called a lizard by those not acquainted with it ; but it is nearer related to the frogs than to the lizards. If there is a representative at all of the order of lizards it is the so-called glass snake - another misnomer. It resembles a snake in having no limbs, but upon examination it will be found that it has movable eyelids, while the true snakes have not. By the popular tradition this reptile will break into pieces by a slight blow and then crawl together again, while the truth is, it has a very long tail in proportion to its body, and when the animal is excited the muscles of the tail become very rigid and so brittle that they break like glass by a slight blow; so that only the tail breaks off and the animal crawls away without it. It is perfectly harmless and can be handled without fear.

Among the snakes proper there are the black snake, blue racer, fox snake, milk snake, three or four kinds of garter snakes, water snakes, and formerly two kinds of rattle snakes ; the latter being the only poisonous snakes in the country, no matter how terrible or threatening they are. The snakes, though valuable aids to the farmer, are fast disappearing on account of a barbarous custom, so universally practiced, of killing every snake that is so unfortunate as to be found in our reach.

Of batrachians there are probably a half-dozen representatives. Besides the salamander above spoken of, there are two or three frogs, the toad and the mud puppy .

The fishes are represented by two species of cat-fish, buffalo-fish, one or two sun-fish, bass, pike, perch, and gar-pike. It is very probable that many times this number may be found, but little has been done with them.

Years of labor would not exhaust the insect world of a square mile of the county chosen at random ; but a little investigation and welldirected study will give one a good understanding of at least those insects most injurious to crops, and the insect enemies of the same. To be able to treat of them properly, one must know something of their nature and habits.

The Colorado potato-beetle (Doryphora ten-lineata) appeared in about 1854, but as stated above it has nearly disappeared, owing largely to its many insect foes.

The ground squirrel destroys a great many of the beetles. One beetle will lay hundreds of eggs in a year, so the ground squirrel, though he may destroy a few hills of corn, may save many a hundred by killing the beetles.

The lists of species is a very small one indeed, and it is to be hoped some one will complete the work by making a note of the species not contained in the above.