USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 43
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The mean temperature of the year was 52 F. Conceded that the temperature on the uplands is 2 degrees lower; the mean temperature for Peoria county may be 50. The range of the thermometer data comprised not less than 127 degrees F. The mini- mum in January, 1873, was 22° below zero, the maximum in August, 1873, 105 above. The greatest range in one month was observed in January, 1864, viz., 87 degrees from the minimum-22, to the maximum + 65, the greatest range in 24 hours was observed from 28th January to the 29th January, 1876, the mercury falling from 61 to 8.5 = 52.5. The four seasons had an average temperature of 27.6 for the Winter (Dec. Jan. Feb.); 51.4 for the Spring (March, April, May); 75.9 for the Summer (June, July, Aug. ), and 54.3 for the Fall (Sept. Oct. Nov.). The mean temperature of the single month is, Dec. 28.7, Jan. 24.9, Feb. 29.3, March 38.4, April 51,8, May 64.1, June 73.9, July 78.3, Aug. 75.6, Sept. 67, Oct. 53.1, Nov. 39.2.
The last frost-that is, when in the middle of Peoria City the minimum temperature was 32° or below, not white frost, which may occur several degrees above freezing point, and kill tender plants-occurred in the 24 years between the 25th of March(1878)and 11th of May (1857), the first frost in Fall between 1st of Oct. (1856) and 3rd of Nov. (1877), so that the period absolutely free of frost was 163 days, and in average 180 days; this is good for the city of Peoria, not for the country, for which this period may be shortened yet.
There are cloudless days in average 38, moderately cloudy 158, very cloudy 169, of which 58 are without sunshine, and with rain or snow 99. The prevalent winds are west and south, the most elonds bring the north-east winds, the clearest weather the west winds, the thunder showers come mostly from south-west, but often turn to east on the left bank of the river, so that Tazewell county has probably more rain than Peoria county. The mean quantity of precipitation (rain and melted snow ) is 34.7 inches in the year, 2.5 in Dee., 1.6 in Jan., 1.8 in Feb., 2.8 in March, 3 in April, 3.5 in May, 3.9 in June, 1.2 in July, 3.4 in Aug., 3.4 in Sept., 2.5 in Oct., 2.3 in Nov. The greatest rainfall was ob- served in the year 1858, in 128 rainy days 51 inches, and in the month of May of that year alone 10.6 on 18 rainy days.
The relative humidity is in the morning 81, at noon, 58, in the evening, 75 p. c. of saturation.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
The flora of Peoria, as far as examined within about 10 miles from the city, contains 812 species of indigenous vascular plants in 102 orders, and 379 genera, and 60 foreign naturalized species, partly of 27 genera, that are not otherwise represented by indigenous species, so that there are indigenous and naturalized species, 872 in 102 orders and 406 genera. The number of species of cellular plants is not yet known. There are observed in the vicinity of Peoria city 75 mosses and 20 livermosses, but probably there may be found 125 and 35. Lichens found by Mr. John Wolf from Canton in the county of Fulton about 150, and all may occur in Peoria county. Fungi and Algæ are very numerous, but not sufficiently examined.
The time when immigrated plants appeared and spread in a district should be care- fully recorded by botanists as well as indigenous plants, when they become extinct. The number of foreign plants is constantly increasing. They appear at first single in single localities, and when not eradicated in the beginning, as has here been done with the white daisy 27 years ago, they spread often, rapidly, and replace indigenous plants, which become extinct.
Very common old settlers are : The hedge mustard, the black mustard, the shep- herd's purse, the common purslane, the common mallow, the velvet leaf, the red clover, the common mayweed, the burdock, the common plantain, the common mullein, the hemp, the Jerusalem oak, the Mexican tea, the green amaranth, the white amaranth, the ladies thumb, the black bindweed, the sheep sorel, the curled dock, the timothy, the common finger-grass, the fox-tail, and two species of eragrostis, pocoides and pilosa.
Recent immigrants, but rapidly spreading, are the watercress, the soapwort, the white melilot, the spiny-leafed sow thistle, the toad flax, the catnip, the ground ivy, the stick seed, the common hound's tongue, the Chenopodium urbicum.
Old settlers, but not so very common, are the common St. John's wort, the high mallow, the bladder ketmia, the parsnip, the unicorn plant, the corn speedwell, the corn mother wort, the common night shade, the thorny amaranth, the floating fox-tail, the orchard grass, the chess, the smooth finger-grass, the whorled fox-tail.
Sparingly found during the last eight or ten years were the cowherb, the corncockle, the common chick weed, the yellow melilot, the Canada thistle, the moth mullein, the bitter dock, the wire grass.
Once found and no more were the false flax, the elecampane, the white daisy, the corn cromwell, the apple of Peru.
There are sometimes on formerly cultivated, now waste places, the asparagus, the horseradish, the tansy, the spearmint, the savory and the like, which can not be con- sidered naturalized, not more than some woody plants, as the catalpa, the locust, the sweet brier, the privet, and others.
Of indigenous plants, which yet 25 years ago in single specimens were found, the rattlebox (crotalaria sag thalis) and the cat gut, Tephrosia Virginiana, disappeared in the localities they were found before.
The woods are variously composed in the different localities. In the upland forests the white oak and the shellbark hickory are prevalent, in the bottom woods, the white elm, the soft maple, the cotton wood, and the black willow.
There were observed in all 31 large, 11 middle-sized, 19 small trees and 50 larger or small shrubs, among which are 11 climbers. Large trees are, except the 7 above named, the burr oak, the swamp white oak, the chestnut oak, the shingle oak, the scarlet oak, the red oak, the black walnut, the butternut, the pecan, the western shell-bark hickory, the mockernut, the pignut and the bitternut, the slippery elm, the hackberry, the white ash and the blue ash, the black cherry, the honey locust, the coffee-bean tree, the box elder, the sugar maple, the linden and the thuja, of which a very old tree nearly three feet in diameter stood near Adams mill. It seems that it formerly was there in a greater number and is now extinct in our vicinity as a wild growing tree.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
Middle-sized trees are the Ohio buckeye. the persimmon. the green ash, the red ash, the black ash, the sassafras, the mulberry, the American and largetoothed-aspen, the blackjack oak and lea's oak, which is probably a hybrid and very scarce throughout the United States. A single tree stands right at the western city limits on the bluff.
Small trees, sometimes only shrubs are the papaw, the hop tree, (or shrubby trefoil). the buckthorn, the red bud, the Juneberry, the plum, the American crab apple, the scar- let fruited thorn, the pear thorn, the cockspur thorn, the witch hazel, the sheepberry, the blackhaw, the panicled cornel, the alternate leaved cornel, the iron wood, the horn- beam, the long-leaved willow, and the red cedar, which grows not to a great size in our vicinity.
Shrubs are the prickly ash, the smooth sumach, the fragrant sumach, the swamp- buckthorn, the New Jersey tea, the burning bush, the blatter nut, the false indigo, the chokecherry, the swamp rose, the dwarf wild rose, the early wild rose, the common blackberry, the black raspberry, the round-leaved gooseberry, the black currant, the wild hydrangea, the round-leaved cornel, the silky cornel, the red osier dogwood, the rough- leaved dogwood, the arrow wood, the cranberry tree, the common elder, the button bush, the black huckleberry (in Timber township), the low blueberry (in Limestone town- ship), the bearberry (in Kickapoo township), the leather wood, the hazel and eight wil- lows, the hoary, the dwarf gray, the prairie, the glaucous, the silky, the petioled, the heart-leaved (the narrow variety) and the myrtle willow.
There are a number of beautiful woody climbers : the Virgins-bower, the moonseed, three grape-vines, the Virginia creeper (or American ivy), the waxwork, the climbing rose, the yellow honey-suckle, the trumpet creeper and the hisprid greenbrier. Of the herbaceous plants, 129 species are annuals or biennials, 572 perennials ; many of them are very showy and worthy of cultivation. In early Spring we find the hepatica and the dwarf white trillium, then follows the rue anemone, the bird foot violet, the columbine and the larkspur, the waterleaf, the Virginia cowslip, the Jacobs ladder, the American cowslip, four species of phlox, the bellwort, the false spikenard, the spiderwort. In Summer appear the milk weeds in twelve species, the lilies in two species, the orange red and the Turk's cap, the large flowered false foxglove, the cardinal flower and the great blue lobelia, the great St. John's wort, the wild bergamot, the false dracon head. the puc- coon, and in Fall many asters and golden rods, of which the former are represented by twenty-two, the latter by fifteen species, the helianthus and rudbeckias, and many other showy compositæ. The greatest beauty is the water chinqueping which covers in the slough opposite Peoria a large tract, surrounded by an immense field of Indian rice, which grows there to the height of ten or fifteen feet.
FAUNA.
As wild plants yield to cultivation, so wild men and beasts to civilization; with the Indian, the black bear, the buffalo, the elk, the beaver, the Carolina paroquet have gone for ever. The following list contains the animals which were observed during the last twenty-eight years, some only in single specimens, others in great abundance.
VERTEBRATES. - I. MAMMALS.
1. CHEIROPTERA-Atolapha Noveboraiensis, the red hat : Atalapha cinereus, the hoary bat ; Vespertilio subulatus, the little brown bat.
2. RAPACIO - Lynx rufus, the wild cat; Canis occidentalis, the gray wolf ; Vulpes viryinianus, the gray fox ; Vulpes fulvus, the common fox, which is here not common ; Putorius Noreboracensis, the weasel ; Putorius vison, the mink ; Lutra canadensis, the otter, now nearly extinct in this vicinity ; Mephitis mephitica, the skunk : Proeyon lotor, the raccoon ; Scalops argentatus, the prairie mole and two shrews, very small mouse- like carniverous animals ; Blarina talpoides and Bl. exilipes.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
3. MARSUPIALIA - Didelphys virginiana, the opossum.
4. RODENTIA - Sciurus pudovicianus the western fox squirrel; Sciurus carolinensis the gray squirrel; Pteromys volucella, the flying squirrel; Spermophilus Franklinii, the gray prairie squirrel ; Spermophilus trideumlineatus, the striped prairie squirrel ; Tamias striatus, the chip-munk or fence mouse ; Aretomys monas, the wood-chuck ; Fiber zibethicus, the musk-rat ; Geomys bursarius, the gopher ; Saculus Hudsonicus, the jumping mouse ; Hesperomys leuropus, the deer mouse ; Arvicola riparia, the meadow mouse ; Lepus silvaticus, the gray rabbit. The two most common, the rat and the house mouse are immigrants.
5. RUMINANTIA - Cervus virginianus, the deer.
II. BIRDS.
1. RAPTORES - Aquilo canadensis, the golden eagle, which is very scarce ; Haliaetos lemocephalus, the bald eagle ; Pandion carolinensis, the fish hawk ; Falio columbarius, the pigeon hawk ; Falio sparverius, the sparrow hawk ; Accipiter cooperi, coopers hawk ; Ac- cipiter fuscus, the sharp-shinned hawk ; Buteo borealis, the red-tailed hawk ; Buteo linea- tus, the red-shouldered hawk ; Nauclerus fureatus, the swallow-tailed hawk ; Cireus hud- sonicus, the marsh hawk; Cathartes aura, the turkey buzzard; Bribo virginiana, the great horned owl; Scops asio, the mottled owl; Otur Wilsonianus, the long-eared owl ; Brathyotus Cassinii, the short-eared owl ; Syrnium nebulosum, the barred owl ; Kyetea nivea, the snowy owl.
2. SCANSORES -Corcygus americanus, the yellow-billed cuckoo ; Corcygus erythroph- thalmus, the black-billed cuckoo ; Hylatomus pileatus, the pileated woodpecker; Picus villosus, the hairy ; Picus pubesiens, the downy ; Sphyrapicus varius, the yellow-bellied ; Centurus carolinus, the red-bellied ; Melanerpes erythrocephalus, the red-headed, and Coloptes auratus, the golden-winged woodpecker.
3. INSESSORES - Trochilus colubris, the humming bird ; Chaetura pelasgia, the chim- ney swallow ; Antrostomus vociferus, the whippoorwill ; Chordeilus Popetue, the night hawk ; Ceryle Alcyon, the kingfisher ; Tyrannus carolinensis, the king bird ; Myiarchus crinitus, the great crested flycatcher; Sayornis fuscus, the pewee ; Cantopus virens, the wood pewee; Turdus mustelinus, the wood thrush; Turdus fuscescens, Wilson's thrush ; Turdus migratorius, the robin ; Sialia sialis, the blue bird ; Regulus calendula, the ruby- crowned wren; Regulus Satrapa, the golden-crowned wren ; Anthus ludovicianus, the tit lark ; Mniotilta varia, the black and white creeper ; Protonotaria citrea, the prothonotory warbler ; Geothlypis trichas, the Maryland yellow throat; Oporornis formosus, the Ken- tucky warbler ; Ictria viridis, the yellow-breasted chat; Helmitherus vermivorus, the worm-cating warbler ; Helminthe phaga Pinus, the blue-winged yellow warbler ; Helmin- thophaga peregrina, the Tennessee warbler; Seiurus aurocapillus, the golden-crowned thrush ; Seiurus noveboracensis, the water thrush ; Dendroica virens, the black-throated green warbler ; Dendroica coronata, the yellow-rumped warbler ; Dendroica Blackburnice, Blackburnian warbler; Dendroicu custanea, the bag-breasted warbler ; Dendroica pinus, the pine-creeping warbler : Dendroica pennsylvanica, the chestnut-sided warbler ; Den- droica coerulea, the blue warbler ; Dendroica striata, the black poll warbler; Dendroica estiva, the yellow warbler ; Dendroica palmarum, the yellow red poll ; Myiodioctes mitra- tus, the hooded warbler; Setophaga ruticilla, the red start ; Pyranga rubra, the scarlet tanager ; Pyranga cstiva, the summer red bird ; Hirundo horreorum, the barn swallow ; Hirundo bicolor, the white-bellied swallow ; Cotyle siparia, the bank swallow; Cotyle serripennis, the rough-winged swallow ; Progne purpurea, the purple martin ; Ampelis garrulus, the wax-wing ; Ampelis cedrorum, the cedar bird ; Collyrio borealis, the butcher bird ; Collyrio excubitoroides, the white-rumped shrike ; Vireo olivaceus, the red-eyed fly- catcher ; Vireo nove boracensis, the white-eyed flycatcher; Vireo solitarius, the blue- headed flycatcher ; Vireo flavifrons, the yellow-throated flycatcher ; Mirnus carolinensis,
20
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
the eat-bird ; Harporhynchus rufus, the brown thrush ; Troglodytes Edon, the house wren ; Troglodytes hyemalis, the winter wren ; C'erthia Americana, the American creeper ; Sitta carolinensis, the white-bellied nut hatch ; Sitta canadensis, the red-bellied nut hatel ; Polioptila corulea, the blue-gray flycatcher ; Lophophunus bicolor. the tufted tit mouse : Parus atricapillus, the black cap tit mouse ; Eremophila cornuta, the sky-lark ; Hesperiphona vespertina, the evening grosbeak, (only once seen, probably a straggler from the Northwest); Carpodous purpureus, the purple finch : Chrysomitris tristis, the yellow bird ; Plectrophanes nivalis, the snow bunting; Chondestes grammacu, the lark finch ; Suneo hyemalis, the snow bird ; Spizella monticola, the tree sparrow ; Spipella socialis, the chipping sparrow ; Melospiza melodia, the song sparrow ; Passerella iliaca, the fox- colored sparrow ; Euxpiza americana, the black-throated hunting ; Guiraca Ludovaiana, the rose-breasted grosbeak ; C'yanospiza cyanea, the Indigo bird : Cardinalis virginianus, the cardinal ; Pipilo erythrophthalmus, the ground robin ; Melothrus pecoris, the cow bird ; Agelaius phoniceus, the red-winged black bird ; Sturnella magna, the meadow lark ; Teterus spurius, the orchard oriole ; Teterus Baltimore, the Baltimore oriole ; Scolecopha- gus ferrugineus, the rusty black bird ; Quiscalus versicolor, the crow black bird : Corrus Americanus, the crow ; Cyanura cristata, the blue jay.
4. RASORES - Ectopistes migratoria, the passenger pigeon ; Zenaidura carolinensis, the common dove; Meleagris gallopavo, the wild turkey; Cupidonia cupido, the prairie chicken ; Ortyr virginianus, the quail.
5. GRALLATORES - Grus americanus, the whooping erane : Grus canadensis, the sand-hill crane ; Herodias egretta, white heron ; Ardea herodias, the great blue heron ; Ardetta erilix, the least bittern ; Botaurus lentiginosus, the bittern ; Butorides virescens, the green heron ; Nyctardea gardeni, the night heron ; Tantalus loculator, the wood ibis ; Ibis ordii, the glossy ibis (both stragglers from the South); Charadrius virginicus. the golden plover ; Aegialitis vociferus, the kill-deer; Aeyiulitis semipalmatus, the king plover ; Phalaropus wilsonii, Wilson's phalarope ; Philohela minor, the woodeock ; Gallinago wilsonii, the English snipe : Macrozhamphus griscus, the red-breasted snipe ; Macrozhamphus scolopaceus, the gray snipe ; Tringa maculata, the jack-snipe ; Tringa wilsonii. the least sand-piper ; Ereunetes petrificatus, the semipalmated sand-piper ; Sym- phenia semipulmuta, the willet ; Gambetta melanolenca, the tell-tale : Gambetta flavipes, the yellow legs; Rhyacophilus solitarius, the solitary sand-piper : Tringoides macedarius, the spotted sand-piper ; Actiturus partramius, the field plover ; Limosa fedoa, the marbled god-wit; Numenius longiviostris, the long-billed enrlew ; Rallus elegans, the marsh hen ; Rallus virginianus, the Virginia rail; Porzana carolina, the common rail ; Fulica ameri- cana, the coot.
6. NATATORES - Cygnus buccinator, the trumpeter swan ; Anser hyperboreus, the snow goose ; Anser gambelii, the white-fronted goose ; Bernicla canadensis, the Canada goose ; Anax boschus, the mallard ; Anas obseura, the dusky duck : Dafila acuta, the sprick-tail ; Nettion carolinensis, the green-winged teal ; Querquedula discors, the blue-winged teal ; Spatula clypeta, the spoon-bill ; Chaulelasmus streperus, the gadwall : Mareia americana, the widgeon ; Air sponsa, the summer duck; Fulix marila, the big black-head ; Fulix affinis, the blue-bill ; Fulir collaris, the ring-necked duck : Aythya americana, the red- head ; Aythya vallisneria, the canvas-back ; Bucephala americana, the golden eye : Buce- phala albeola, the buffle-head ; Meryus americanus, the sheldrake : Meryus serrator, the red-breasted merganser ; Lophodytes cucullatus, the hooded merganser : Pelecanus rryth orhynchus, the pelican ; Gramlus dilophus, the double-crested cormorant ; Larus argenta- tus, the herring gull ; Larus delewarensis, the common gull : Sterna regia, the royal tern ; Sterna wilsonii. Wilson's tern ; Hydroshelydon plumbea, the short-tailed tern ; Columbus toryuatus, the loon ; Podylimbus podiceps, the pied-bill grebe.
In the first volume of Trans. of Ill. Agr. Soc., two lists of Illinois birds were published, one for Cook county, by Robert Keunikott, and one for the southern part of
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
the State by Henry Pratten. From these two lists and that above, which contains 181 species of birds, it appears that in the State of Illinois 239 species have been observed, and that we may add to the Peoria list 21 species which, though not yet noticed, oecur as well south as north of Peoria. About 380 is the number of species in the United States east of the Mississippi river, including all the numerous swimming birds, which, partly from far North, visit periodically our coasts.
III. REPTILES.
1. TESTUDINATA-Aspidoncetes spinifer, the soft shell turtle ; Chelydra serpentina, the snapping turtle ; Aromochelys odoratus, the musk tortoise ; Gnosternum pennsylvanium, the mud tortoise ; Pseudemys elegans, the elegant tortoise ; Malacoclemmys geographicus, the map turtle ; Malucoclemmys pseudo geographicus, another map turtle ; Chrysemys picta ver marginata, the painted turtle ; Chrysemys Bellii, Bell's tortoise.
2. LACERTILIA-Chemidophorus sexlineatus, the lizard, and Opheosaurus ventralis, the glass snake, a snake-like lizard without feet.
3. OPHIDIA - Crotalus horridus, the banded rattlesnake ; Caudisona tergemina, the prairie rattlesnake ; Ancistrodon contortrix, the copperhead - only these three are poisonous, all the others are harmless and beneficial. Ophibolus eximius, the milk snake ; Ophibolus getulus var sayi, the king snake ; Chlorosma vernalis, the green snake ; Coluber obsoletus, the pilot snake; Pitnophis melano leucus, the bull snake ; Bascanion constrictor, the black snake ; Eutainia sirtalis and Eutainia proxima, two brown snakes ; Storeria occipito maculata, the brown snake ; Storeria de kayi, the small brown snake ; Tropidonotus sipedon, the water snake, and the Variety erythrogaster ; Heterodon platyrhinus, the blow- ing viper ; Coluber vulpinus, the raeer.
4. BATRACHIANS - Necturus lateratis, the mud puppy ; Amblystoma tigrinum, the tiger triton ; Amblystoma punctatum, the newt: Bufo lentiginosus Americanus, the toad ; Hyla versicolor, the tree frog ; Rana halecina, the leopard frog ; Rana catesbiana, the bull frog.
IV. FISHES.
Alvordius maculatus, the blenny darter; Alvordius phorocephalus, the sharp-nosed darter ; Boleosoma maculatum, the Johnny darter ; Poeciliththys variatus, the blue darter ; Peria americana, the yellow pereh ; Stizostethium canadense, the sand pike ; Stizostethium vitreum, the glass eye; Miaropterus salmoides, the small-mouthed black bass ; Chaenobryt- tus gulosus, the black sunfish ; Apomotis cyanellus, the blue-spotted sunfish ; Xenotis mega- lotis, the blue-and-orange sunfish ; Eupomotis aureus, the common sunfish ; Pomorys nigro- maculatus, the grass hass ; Pomoxys annularis, the croppie ; Haploidonotus gruniens, the sheep head ; Labidesthes sicculus, the silversides ; Zygonectes dispar, the striped minnow ; Esox lucius, the pike ; Esor salmoneus, the piekerel ; Hyodon tergisus, the moon eye ; Doro- soma cepidianum, the hickory shad; Pomolobus chrysochloris, the Ohio shad; Campostoma anomalum, the stone lugger ; Hyborhynthus notatus, the blunt-nosed minnow ; Hybogna- thus argyritus, the silvery minnow ; Alburnops storerianus, Storer's minnow ; Alburnops haematurus, Luxilus cornutus, the shiner : Photogenis analostanus, the silver fin ; Lythru- rus displaemius, the red fin ; Notropis atherinoides, the emerald minnow : Notemigonus chrysolemus, the bream ; Semotilno corporalis, the horned dace ; Myxostoma duquesnii, the red horse ; Myxostoma areodum, the small-headed mullet ; Myrostoma velatum, the small- mouthed red horse ; Minytrema melanops, the spotted sucker ; Catostornus Commersonii, the common sucker ; Cycleptus elongatus, the black horse ; Carpiodes velifer, the spear- fish ; Ichthyobus bubalus, the brown buffalo; Bubalichthys urus, the black buffalo; Buba- lichtys cyanellus, the small-mouthed buffalo ; Ichthaelurus punctatus, the blue eat ; Amiu- rus vulgaris, the long-jawed eat ; Amiurus catus, the bull head ; Amiurus Xanthocephalus, the yellow-headed cat ; Pelodichthys olivaris, the mud cat ; Noturus flavus, the yellow-
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
stone cat ; Noturus sialis, the chubby-stone cat ; Anguilla rostrata, the eel ; Amia calva, the dogfish : Lepidosteus osseus, the gar pike ; Lepidosteus platystomus, the short-nosed gar : Polyodon folium, the spoon-bill ; Acipenser maculosus, the spotted sturgeon ; Scaphi- rynthus platyrhynthus, the shovel-nosed sturgeon ; Ammorutes argenteus, the silvery lam- prey.
The whole number of vertebrates, as far as known, in this county, is 304; mammals, 30; birds, 181; reptiles, 28; batrachians, 7; and fishes, 5%. There are not included as immigrants the rat, the house-mouse, and the house-sparrow, which was lately inten- tionally introduced, but soon will prove a nuisance.
INVERTEBRATES.
It would fill a volume to enumerate the species of this division of the Animal King" dom. It will be sufficient to have named the most prominent of each class and family Insects are very numerous, often more than our farmers and gardeners like. The devastations in agriculture and horticulture caused by the periodical increase of certain species of grasshoppers, cicades, beetles, lepridopterous and dipterous larvae, which in an epidemie manner overrun large districts are often enormous. About the year 1856 nearly all our locust trees, at that time the most general shade tree, were destroyed by the larvæ of a black and yellow beetle, called Clytus flestuosus ; in 1869 the potato beetle made his ap- pearance and did great damage during several years ; in 1873 a barklouse infested the soft maple and now the larvae of au immigrated white butterfly, pieris oleraiea, ravages the cabbage. Fortunately these enemies of the products of our soil have their enemies also, which diminish their number in a far more efficient way, than all our artificial remedies. So their devastations are only periodical.
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