USA > Iowa > Fremont County > History of Fremont County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistic, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Fremont County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 42
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
success, grew more impudent, till their victim made a break through their ranks and flapped into the heart of a neighboring juniper, hoping to be protected by the tough, thick foliage. The jays went trooping after, and I hardly know how the fight would have ended had I not thought it time to take a hand in the game myself. I secured the owl first, it be- ing the interesting Pygmy Owl, (Glaucidium), and then shot four of the jays before they made up their minds to be off. The collector has no bet- ter chance to enrich his cabinet than when the birds are quarreling, and so it has been with the third party in a difficulty, ever since the monkey divided cheese for the two cats."-Coues.
No. 226 .- " Mudie speaks as follows of the European bittern's voice : 'Anon a burst of savage laughter breaks upon you, gratingly loud, and so unwonted and odd that it sounds as if the voices of a bull and a horse were combined; the former breaking down his bellow to suit the neigh of the latter, in mocking you from the sky;' 'when the bittern booms and bleats overhead, one certainly feels as if the earth were shaking," Chaucer speaks as follows in The Wife of Bath's Tale:
' And as a bitore bumbleth in the mire, She laid hire mouth into the water doun, Bewray me not, thou water, with they soun', Quod she, to the I tell it, and no mo, Min husband hath long asses eres two.'
Another notion was that the bill was put inside a reed to increase the sound; the truth is, of course, that the bird uses no means to produce its bellow but its own organs of voice. Our own bittern has no rude roar, but, as its name in most parts of the country denotes, makes a noise very much like driving a stake with an axe. It has also a hollow croak at the moment of alarm."-Endicott.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
PLANTÆE* WOODY PLANTS AND VINES.
Negundo aceroides, box elder, common; handsome.
Quercus rubra, red oak, common; excellent fuel.
Quercus nigra, black oak, abundant; valuable; medicinal; bark as- tringent.
Quercus palustris, pin oak, rare; a coarse grained variety.
Quercus castanea, chesnut oak, fairly common.
Quercus macrocrapa, burr oak, very common.
Quercus imbricaria, laurel oak, rare; valuable only for fuel.
Quercus phellos, (?) willow oak; valuable for fuel.
Quercus tinctoria, yellow bark oak; very rare; bark astringent.
Ulmus americana, white elm, common in bottoms.
Ulmus fulva, slippery elm, common; bark medicinal; demulcent. -
Ulmus alata, winged elm, doubtful very, more eastern.
Acer rubrum, red maple, rare; valuable in cabinet work.
Acer dasycarpum, white maple, very common.
Acer saccharinum, hard maple, cultivated; valuable for sugar and fuel. Salix tristis, (?) glaucous willow, common.
Salix lucida, shining willow, very common.
Salix petiolaris, petioled willow, very common.
Salix nigra, black willow, very rare.
Salix longifolia; long-leaved willow, very common.
Salix candida, (?) white willow, medicinal; astringent.
Salix humilis, prairie willow, not uncommon.
Populus tremuloides, aspen, cultivated.
Populus angulata, water poplar, not common; a large tree.
Populus monilifera, cottonwood, abundant; tall and large.
Platanus occidentalis, sycamore, common along streams; the largest hough not the tallest tree in the American forest; conspicuous by its whiteness.
Tilia americana, basswood, linn, common; large.
* It is manifestly impo-sible to present the reader with anything like a complete list of e county's plants, since their nomenclature alone would require a volume of greater pro- ortions than this. Two classes only have been given, the arboreous and shrubby - ith a few climbing plants-and the medicinal, the latter including only the most common id best known varieties. It is a peculiarity of all science that many forms-small in temselves-rejoice in a nomenclature the length of which is altogether disproportionate · their size. Yet, such is the looseness with which popular names are used that identifica- on is simply an impossibility, unless recourse is had to the proper botanical nomencla re-which is a sufficient apology for the introduction of these technical names .- R. E. C.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Juglans nigra, black walnut, valuable in the arts.
fuglans cinerea, (?) butternut, common; medicinal; cathartic. Carya alba, shell-bark hickory, common; valuable. Carya glabra, pignut hickory, abundant; fruit bitter. Carya amara, bitternut, valuable for fuel; common.
Betula nigra, red birch, stately tree; mild tonc; common.
Fraxinus americana, white ash, common; valuable.
Fraxinus viridis, green ash, rare.
Fraxinus sambucifolia, black ash, abundant; valuable for rails.
Liriodendron tulipifera, tulip tree, valuable substitute for pine; very large; bark medicinal; diaphoretic.
Gymnocladus canadensis, coffee tree, rare; fruit peculiar .
Gleditschia triacanthus, honey locust, not rare; wood heavy.
Carpinus americana, hornbeam, doubtfully referred to the county.
Alnus incana, black alder, common.
Alnus serrulata, smooth alder, doubtful; rare, if at all.
Cornus florida, cornel, abundant; very pretty; bark medicinal; a decided roborant.
Cornus paniculata, panicled dogwood, common; flowers white. Rhus toxicodendron, poison ivy, dangerous; easily recognized.
Rhus glabra, sumac, common; poisonous.
Rhus radica us, three-leaved ivy, rare; poisonous.
Robinia pseudacacia, locust, fragrant; valuable; common.
Sambucus canadensis, elderberry, fairly common; edible; medicinal; see below.
Corylus americana, hazel-nut, very abundant; edible.
Spiræ atomentosa, hackberry, common.
Spiræa salicifolia, meadow sweet, very common.
Morus rubra, mulberry, common; edible.
Ostrya virginica, ironwood, common along bottoms; heavy.
Rhamnus catharticus, perhaps lanceolatus, buckthorn, common; medic- inal.
Cratagus tomentosa, blackthorn, common; very tough.
Cratægus coccinea, white thorn, abundant.
Cratægus virdis, red haw, everywhere; a misnomer.
Amelanchier canadensis, service berry, common; edible; several varie- ties.
Prunus americana, wild plum, abundant; edible.
Cerasus pennsylvanica, wild red cherry, common; edible.
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Cerasus virginica, choke cherry, abundant; insipid.
Cerasus serotina, black cherry, common; edible, but bitter.
Aesculus glabra, buckeye, occasional; fetid.
Asımina triloba, pawpaw, common; edible.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Rosa lucida, wild rose; everywhere; pretty.
Rosa setigua, early wild rose, prairies; beautiful.
Pyrus ioensis, wild crab apple, abundant; fruit useless unless preserved. Ribes rotundifolium, smooth gooseberry, common; edible.
Ribes cynosbati, prickly gooseberry, abundant; edible.
Ribes floridum, wild black currant, common; fruit insipid. Lonicera flava, wild honeysuckle, hillsides, common.
Lonicera grata (?), American woodbine; elegant, often cultivated. Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Virginia creeper, common; harmless.
Xanthoxylum americanum, prickly ash, common; medicinal.
Vitis cordifolia, frost grape, common; edible.
Vitis aestivalis, river bank grape, abundant; edible.
Ceanothus americanus, Jersey tea; abundant on prairies.
Ceanothus ovalis, red root, pernicious; abundant.
Staphylea trifolia, bladdernut; rare.
Amorpha canescens, lead plant; abundant.
Viburnum lentago, black haw; common.
Shepherdia aegentea (?) buffalo berry; fruit edible, scarlet, acid.
Cercis canadensis, red bud, common; used for dyeing.
Amorpha fruticosa, false indigo.
Cephalanthus occidentalis, button bush.
Euonymus atropurpureus, wahoo, fairly common.
Juniperus virginiana, cedar .*
Celtis crassifolia, hackberry (?) common.
Celastrus scandens, bittersweet.
Symphoricarpus vulgaris, common nearly everywhere; perhaps two species.
Rubus occidentalis, common.
Rubus villosus, rare, perhaps accidental; root-bark astringent.
Menispermum canadensis, moonseed, in woods.
Smilax rotundifolia? green briar; common.
The preceding list comprises all the trees, shrubs and woody climbing plants known in the county. The major part of them may be found along the bottom lands of the principal streams, or along the bluffs of the Missouri river. It will be seen that the county is well wooded with varie- ties valuable both as fuel and in the arts. The varieties are many, but, as is usual in wooded districts, a few kinds predominate. No attempt has been made to discuss the relations of the flora to that of the remainder of the state, nor to point out the few species of plants peculiar to it. The design has been to present a list-with brief notes-of the more valuable and large plants, and it is believed the county's resources, in this particu- lar, are quite fully represented by the foregoing catalogue.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
There is, however, one feature that cannot be passed without comment. The flora of the county is distinctively divided in that it comprises species both of woodland and prairie habitat, i. e., its forms are found in either the one or the other location. Associated with the trees and shrubs are innumerable herbs, such as are commonly found in low or in wooded dis- tricts, and are, in the main, distinct in habitat from the plants of the higher and more exposed country. The prairie, on the other hand, is peculiarly rich in that order of flowering plants known as the Compositae. Riding across the country one may see thousands of beautiful blossoms raising their brilliant selves above the grasses that would obscure their beauty. The golden solidagos, the purple asters or the brilliant puccoons, vie with each other in claiming the attention of the passer-by. In the more moist places is to be seen the pure white pennyroyal, and by its side blossoms the invaluable boneset. Who would recognize in these brilliant white flowers, the nauseous mixtures our " grandames and aunts " were wont to prepare for us? To see the prairie in all its beauty it is needful that not one trip, but many, should be made-and let the occasion suit the season. In the earlier summer the omnipresent " nig- ger-head "-(Echinacea purpurea)-lifts its form as defiantly and jauntily withal as the " ox eye " daisy for which the meadows of New England are so famous. Then, in the valleys bloom the " iron-weeds," ( Vernonia fasciculata) while on the prairies the " rosin-weed," (Sulphium laciniatum) lifts its cheerful golden face to nod knowingly at you as you pass by. Here, there, everywhere, some beautiful blossom sıniles at you, and awakens feelings in your heart that only a prairie flora can. What won- der our fathers stopped here amid so much splendor-a splendor withal that marked the great fertility of the virgin soil. From early spring, when first_appear the "Johnny jump-ups," ( Viola cucullata) and "Bird's foot violet," (Viola delphinifolia) to late autumn, when the last aster and , golden-rod succumb to Nature's inexorable laws, the prairie forms the botanist's paradise. Inviting, did you say? Aye, more than that, in- structive in the highest sense, for here some orders reach a development unknown elsewhere on the globe. Here one finds the princes of the flower realm of Nature. Cunningly, wisely, and full of a hidden secret meaning, a thousand forms look up into the faces of pedestrians who, with repressed curiosity, and not quite willingly, tread them under foot. They are leaves of the great folio, marginal notes on the pages of the book of Nature, often and to many, and for a long period to every one, hiero- glyphs whose deciphering would repay all the requisite toil.
But very many of these plants have an infinitely greater value than that conferred by their beauty. Does some astute utilitarian mutter to himself, "Now you are getting sensible"? Wonder if he thinks of this when making grimaces at some unsavory decoction his physician has pre-
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
scribed? Wonder if he would not rather look at than take them? Enter- ing largely into the category of medicinal plants as do many of the forms found in this county it is deemed a matter of interest to the general reader to know their habitat, their abundance, and their uses. The following list is very far from exhaustive, dealing as it does with only some of the most common or most easily recognized plants that possess a medicinal value. Where practicable, that portion of the plant which is used is in- dicated, together with the nature of its action physiologically.
CATALOGUE OF COMMON MEDICINAL PLANTS.
Parmelia parietina, common yellow wall lichen; tonic.
Adiantum pedatum, maiden hair fern; common, astringent.
Veratum viride, white hellebore, common in, swamps; poisonous: an energetic irritant; not safe.
Mentha canadensis, spearmint; common stimulant and tonic.
Hedeoma pulegioides, pennyroyal; common; stimulant and carminative.
Verbascum thapsus, common mullein; emulcent, slightly narcotic. The leaves are used.
Taraxacum dens-leonis; dandelion; common; tonic and stomachic.
Eupatorium perfoliatum, boneset, very abundant; emulcent, an emetic.
Sanguinaria canadensis, blood root; abundant, diaphoretic.
Cassia marilandica, senna, common; cathartic.
Oxalis stricta, abundant; an excellent refrigerant.
Linum usitatissimum, flax, not naturalized; an emollient and demulcent. Cimicifuga racemosa, black snake root, only the root used; it is an astringent, quite local and only in woodlands along the Missouri bluffs.
Tanacetum huronense, doubtful here; tonic, leaves only.
Polygonum incarnatum, knot-weed, abundant; roots cathartic.
Datura stramonium, Jamestown-weed, abundant; leaves and seeds nar- cotic.
Sambucus canadensis, common; the flowers are mildly stimulant and sudorific; the berries diurectic, and the inner bark is cathartic and emetic.
Solidago missouriensis, common; the flowers reputed valuable in wounds.
Gillenia stipulacea, American ipecac, leaves emetic.
Mertensia virginica, lung-wort; the root said to be a valuable expec- torant.
Acorus Calamus, sweet flag, rare, the root; tonic.
Scilla Fraseri, squill, rare, the bulb; diurectic.
Arabia quinquefolia, ginseng, rare, the root; tonic.
Marrubium vulgare, hoarhound; a weak tonic.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Geranium maculata, cranesbill; root astringent. Sabbatia angularis, American centaury; febrifuge and tonic. Achillaea millefolium, milfoil, introduced; tonic. Cannabis americana, American hemp; hypnotic.
REPTILIA .* TOADS, FROGS, SNAKES AND TURTLES.
In the number and variety of reptiles the county is equal to any in the state. The dry prairies form congenial homes for the skinks (E. septen- trionalis); its streams are the homes of several species of turtles and batrachians, and its woods and fields shelter a large number of serpents. Of all the latter that are here listed, only two species, the rattlesnake (C. tergemina and C. horridus), are poisonous. While local and popular tra- dition arms most of the remaining, and especially the "blowing-viper" (Heterodon simus), with deadly powers, the fact is that without a single exception they are perfectly harmless. In the economy of farming they are beneficial, ridding the fields and gardens of many destructive forms. Of all the varieties mentioned in the following lists the toads and turtles are beyond a doubt the most beneficial to the farmer. The first rid him of many destructive insects; the latter clear his streams from dead and deleterious matters.
OPHIDIA-SERPENTS.
Reptiles, not shielded with an epidermal covering of imbricated scales, which is shed as a whole and replaced at regular intervals; mouth very dilatable; the bones of the lower jaw separate from each other, only united by ligaments; limbs wanting or represented by small spurs on the sides of the vent-a transverse slit. Various anatomical characters distin- guish the snakes, but the elongated form and absence of limbs separate them at once from all our other vertebrates, excepting the lizard Opheo- saurus, and this is not in any other respect, snake-like .- fordan.
COLUBRIDÆ-COLUBRINE SNAKES.
1. Heterodon platyrhinus, blowing viper, perfectly harmless.
2. Heterodon simus, hog-nosed snake, innocent.
*The classification adopted is that of Jordan's Manual of Vertebrates, 2d edition. A close and more extended survey may add a few more species to the list.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
3. Tropidonotus erythrogaster, red-bellied water snake.
rhombifer, Holbrook's water snake.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. faireyi, Fairie's garter snake.
66 grahami, Graham's snake.
Tropidoclontum kirtlandi, Kirtland's snake, pretty.
(?) Storeria occipitomaculata, red-bellied snake, doubtful.
Eutænia saurita riband snake, handsome; small snake, rare.
proxima, Say's garter snake.
radix, Hoy's garter snake; determination doubtful. sirtalis, striped snake; several varities.
Pityophis sayi, western pine snake, seventy inches long. Coluber obsoletus, racer, one of the largest snakes.
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. vulpinus, fox snake. 16. emoryi, Emory's racer. 17. Cyclophis œstivus, summer green snake,'splendid. 18. 19. 20. Ophibolus sayi, king snake. 21. doliatus, corn snake. 22. triangulus, spotted adder, harmless. 23. calligaster, Kennicott's chain snake. 24. 25. Carphophiops amænus, ground snake. 26. 66 vermis, worm snake, rare and local.
Diadophis punctatus, ring-necked snake, also var amabitis. (?) " arnyi, Arny's ring-necked snake.
(?) Virginia elegans, Kennicott's brown snake, doubtful.
CROTALIDÆ-CROTALID SNAKES.
(These snakes are all renowned for the deadliness of their venom.) 27. Crotalus horridus, rattlesnake; deadly; doubtful determination. 28. Caudisoma tergemina, prairie rattlesnake; abundant.
There is much doubt that Crotalus horridus is found here. The prairie snake varies so wonderfully that it is not at all sure but that some local form of that species is confounded with the wood-rattlesnake, which is more eastern in its distribution.
BATRACHIA.
Cold-blooded vertebrates, allied to the fishes, but differing in several respects, notably in the absence of rayed fins, the limbs being usually developed and functional, with the skeletal elements of the limbs of rep- tiles: toes usually without claws.
The batrachians undergo a more or less complete metamorphosis, the young (" tadpoles ") being aquatic and fish-like, breathing by means of
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
external gills or branchiæ; later in life lungs are developed and, with one exception, the gills disappear ; skin naked and moist, (rarely having imbed- ded scales) and used to some extent as an organ of respiration ; heart with two auricles and a single vertricle; reproduction by means of eggs, which are of comparatively small size, without hard shell, developed in water or in moist situations .- fordan.
RANIDÆ-FROGS.
Rana halccina, leopard frog; common.
" clamitans, green frog.
catesbiana, bull frog; " well noted for its rich bass notes."
temporaria, wood frog; variety.
HYLIDÆE-TREE FROGS.
Hyla versicola, common tree toad.
(?) Hyla Pickeringii, Pickering's tree toad. Acris gryllus, cricket frog.
(?) Charophilus sp.
BUFONIDÆ-TOADS.
Bufo lentiginosus, American toad; variable.
PLETHODONTIDÆE-SALAMANDERS.
Hemidactylium scutatum, four-toed salamander. Spelerpes bilincatus, two-striped salamander. Spelerpes longicaudus, cave salamander. Spelerpes ruber, red triton.
AMBLYSTOMIDÆ-AMBLYSTOMAS.
Amblystoma opacum, opaque salamander; handsome. Amblystoma tigrinum, tiger salamander; common. Amblystoma microstomum, small mouthed salamander. Amblystoma punctatum, large spotted salamander. Menopoma alleghaniense, hell bender; common.
LACERTILIA-LIZARDS.
Opheosaurus ventralis, glass snake; tail breaks into pieces when caught. Cnemidophorus sexlineatns, six-lined lizard.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
SCINCIDÆ-SKINKS.
Eumeces fasciatus. blue-tailed lizard; common.
Eumeces septentrionalis, northern skink; common.
TESTUDINATA-TURTLES.
Cistudo clausa, common box turtle.
Cistudo ornata, northern box turtle; very abundant.
Malacoclemmys geographicus, map turtle.
Malacoclemmys pseudogeographicus, Le Sueur's map turtle. Chrysemys picta, painted turtle. (Not seen. Possibly, in local tradi- tion, confounded with the elegant terrapin.)
Pseudemys troostii, yellow-bellied terrapin.
Pseudemys elegans, elegant terrapin.
Chelydra serpentina, snapping turtle.
Cinosturnum pennsylvanicum, small mud turtle; in Wabonsie Lake. Trionyx ferox, soft-shell turtle.
Few persons realize the numbers and beauty of many of these forms of life which are usually considered either dangerous or disgusting. They are often of surprising beauty and always instructive. Belonging, as they do, to the highest branch of animal life- the vertebrata- though to some of its lower orders, they come to us revealing through their structure and structural affinities that long line of ancestry through which the highest orders have been evolved. They take us back, in thought, to those remote periods of the world's history when birds, reptiles and fishes were difficult of separation; when each comprised in their structure some of the salient features of the other. While, perhaps, the structural resem- blance of the modern forms is recondite or hidden to the casual observer, by the aid of forms long since entombed in the rocks the competent stu- dent not only detects, but places on them their proper value. It is said that "there are sermons in stones," but with, perhaps, greater accuracy it may be said there is history in bones.
MOLLUSCA.
In the streams of the county, and in its wooded districts a's well, are found some of those low forms of animal life that are rarely if ever seen by a people dwelling in prairie regions. These creatures are the mollusks, numerous in individuals, but comparatively rare in species. In all the perennial streams they find a congenial home. The species, of both land and fresh-water shells found in the county, are as follows:
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
FRESH-WATER MOLLUSKS.
Unio* alatus, Say-The winged unio.
rubiginosus, Lea-The ruddy unio.
66 coccineus, Hill-The saffron unio.
parvus, Barnes-The little unio.
66 luteolus, Lam-The straw-colored unio.
66 undulatus, Barnes-The wavy unio.
Unio pressus, Lea, the flat unio.
66 ligamentinus, Barnes. the ligament unio.
gibbosus, Barnes, the gibbous unio.
ventricosus, Barnes, the inflated unio.
66 rectus, Lamarck, the straight unio. .
66 mississippiensis, Lea, the Mississippi unio.
Margaritana* complanata, Barnes, the complanate clam.
rugosa, Barnes, the rugose margaritana.
Anodonta danielsti, Lea, Daniel's anodon.
66 grandis, Say, the splendid anodon.
66 ferussaciana, Lea, Ferrusac's anodon.
imbecillis, Say, the slight anodon.
Sphaerium straiatinum, Lam., the striated globe-shell.
occidentale, Prime, the western globe-shell.
66 rhomboideum, Prime, (very rare) the. rhomboid globe-shell. Pisidium abditum, Prime, the hidden pea-shell.
Limnaea reflexa, Say, the reflected river-snail.
66 humilis, Say, the humble river-snail. decidiosa, Say, abundant.
Physa heterostropha, Say, the sinistral physa.
gyrina, Say, (var. last ?), the tadpole physa.
Ancylus rivnlaris, Hald., the river limpet.
Planorbis tivolvis, Say, the three-whorled plane-shell.
campanulatus, Say, the little-bell-like plane-shell.
parvus, Say, the little-plane-shell.
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lentus, Say, the smooth plane-shell.
Melantho subsolidus, Anth., the somewhat-solid black snail.
LAND MOLLUSKS.
These forms are very few, and none of them abundant. It is barely possible that the great prairie fires of past years were the main agency in reducing their numbers. These animals are to be sought in the woods,
*Unio and Margaritana both mean pearl bearing.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
in shady, moist ravines and may be taken in greatest abundance during the warm rains of spring. They are easily prepared, and when properly cleansed make most beautiful-though fragile-ornaments. Many of the smallest kinds must be sought under chips and decayed vegetation, and even then will be commonly overlooked.
Helix albolabris, Say, white-lipped snail-shell,
profunda, Say, the deeply umbilicated snail-shell.
66 alternata, Say, the striped land-snail.
hirsuta, Say, the hirsute snail-shell.
arboreus, Say, tbe tree-snail.
pulchella, Mull, the beautiful whorled shell (minute).
monodon, Rackett, the one-toothed snail.
leaii, Ward, Lea's land-snail.
clausa, Lea, the closed (umbilicus) land ,snail.
Pupa pentadon, Say, the five-toothed pupa-shell (very small).
Many of these shells pessess great beauty, but all lack the brilliant col- oration of species that are found in tropical countries, or even in some portions of North America. There are numerous highly colored varie- ties on the West Coast, and some few found in the southern states. Only two of the above list attain any considerable size, the Helix albolabris, and Helix profunda, which sometimes grow to one and one-half inches in diameter. Further investigation of all the shells of this county will abundantly reward any interested person,
MAMMALS.
Time was when the prairies and woods of Fremont county gave sus- tenance and shelter to many interestin animals among the higher orders. The buffalo (Bison Americanus) once roamed here in countless numbers, and even now, in the marshes and morasses along the river bottoms their remains are frequently exposed. The American panther, (Felis concolor) once found a congenial home in its woods, but the coming of the white man-who wages a merciless war on wild life of every sort-has driven them to other and remote homes. The wolf (Canis lupus) is still occas- ionally seen, skulking along the lowlands, the self-despised remnants of a once numerous race. The fox (vuepes vulgaris) under its vari- ous names of "red fox," "silver fox," and " black fox," occasionally enjoys a "square meal " at the farmer's expense, and to the detriment of his hen- nery, but hunted in revenge for his depredations and in desire for his pelt, he is rapidly becoming extinct. One animal still flourishes, the enterpris- ing nature of which is not unfrequently wafted to us on the " stilly breezes of night," to our disgust, and yet a most valuable companion to the farmer,
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