St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 6: Fauna, 1881

PPENDED will be found the names of the wild animals which inhabited this country during the early settlement of the State. The bufl^alo, deer, bear, wild cat, panther and wolf were among the more important animals, and furnished much sport for the early pioneers. The feathered tribe was numerously represented in the myriads of geese, ducks, prairiefowl, wild turkey and quail. The student, in examining carefully our list, will notice that many animals mentioned may still be found within the boundaries of St. Glair county. The natural history of thfe country is quite interesting, and it is profitable to make a study of the animals which inhabited it prior to the advent of man ; their habits, and the means of their subsistence are worthy of investigation. Some were animals of prey; others harmless, and subsisted upon vegetable matter. The early animals of this portion of the State ranged over a wide field; and those which inhabited the prairie and timbered regions differ but very materially as to species.

Ruminating animals. - The American Elk (Cervus Canadensis), together with deer of two kinds, the more common, the wellknown American deer (Cervus Virgin ianus), and the White-tailed Deer (Ce'rvui Leucurus). 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 and prairies of this portion of the State. The heads, horns and bones 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 (Canis 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 concolor) 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 Kaccoon (Procyon Lotor) ; The Opossum (Didelphys Virginiana). The two latter species of animals are met with in every portion of the United States and the greater part of North America. The coon skin among the early settlers was regarded as a legal tender. The Bear and Otter are now extinct in the county, and were valuable for their furs. Of the squirrel family we have the Fox, Gray, Flying, Ground and Prairie Squirrel' (Scirus Ludovicanus, Carolinensis, Volucella, Striatus and Spermaphilus). The Woodchuck (Arctomys Monax) ; the common Musk Eat (Fiber Zibethicus). The Bats, Shrews and Moles are common. Of the Muridse we have the introduced species of Rats and Mice, as also the native Meadow Mouse, and the Longtailed Jumping Mouse (Meriones Labradorus), frequently met with iu the clearings. Of the Hares, (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 are 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 return.

Among the Game Birds most sought after are the Meleagris Gallopavo (Wild Turkey), and Cupidonia Cupido (Prairie Hen), which afford excellent sport for the hunter, and are quite plentiful; Pinnated Grouse (Bonasa Unibellus) ; Ruffled Grouse (Ortyx Virginianus) ; Quail (Philohela Minor) ; Woodcock (Gallinago Wilsonii) ; English Snipe (Macrorhamphus Griseus) ; Redbreasted Snipe (Gambetta Melanoleuca) ; Telltale Snipe (Gambetta Flavipes) ; Yellow Legs. (Limosa Fedoa) ; Marbled Godwit (Scolofax Fedoa, Wilson) ; Numenius Longirastris (Long-billed Curlew) ; Kuraenius Hudsonicus (Short-billed Curlew) ; Rallus

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 destroying noxious insects, and which should be encouraged and fostered in every way.

Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers (small summer birds, with pleasant 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 valuable birds which it nearly resembles, to wit: - The Hairy Woodpecker (Picus villiosii et vars) ; and the Downy Woodpecker (Pious pubescens et vars). 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 flycatchers, the King Bird or bee catcher, Whip-poor-will, Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewee or Pewit. AH the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches (Fringillidse), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black, White 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 geese.

Of the F^^h, the most common are the Cat, Bass, and the Sunfish. Jhe Perch, Pike and Bufialo are also occasionally met with. The common Carp Chuff are numerous ; the Bass is a game-fish, and affords fine sport.

Which include those which have beneficial qualities, but which have also noxious or destructive qualities in the way of dej?troying 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 above), Baltimore Oriole or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or Wax-wings (Ampelis cedrorum), Hawks, and the larger Owls.