RK-407

3

The skin of the Fisher and Weasel, was found amongst the Indians, in use as an ornamental pouch for the pipe & tobacco but the animals themselves, were not known here since the occupancy of the country by White folks

The Otter still maintains an existance amongst us, but confines himselfe to streams and ponds of such magnitude, as afford him plenty of sea room, as well as good fishing ground He has been taken repeatedly, in possession of a house constructed by the Musk Rat; but whether he came to it by high handed robery, or by more foul murder, is yet an undecided matter - That they ever lived in Prairie Sloughs, or any where else where fish was not convenient is I think a mistake in the reporter

The Beaver of [illegible] an inhabitant of this part of Ill was cut off at so early a day, that no trace of former existance, is now to be found

The Bear was know by report ever since I came to the country, but a solitary specimen, was all that has certainly been caught - some twelve or fifteen years since, one was found strolling about the prairie in my neighbourhood. It was immediately pursued and taken alive It was miserably poor & though well treated after its captivity, survived only a few weeks. It was judged to be one yr. old

The news of its capture called ^out all of the old hunters far & near; but though some tracks and other sign of Bear was found, none could ever be put in chace

The large Wolf both black & gray was found here at the first settlement of the country, but the want of extensive forests or other secure retreats, soon rendered his existance so perilous that he left for parts unknown -

The Prairie Wolf was for many years, one of our most intolerable pests Sheep, Pig, and poultry, were all equally his prey; nor was any season, summer or winter, or any time day or night, found to minish his presence, or moderate his apetite Before domestick stock became plentiful, he was fain to fill his belly with such as he could get Green Corn, Pumpkins, Squash Water Melons, Cucumber, and the like were not rejected.

but his preference for animal food, soon led him to reject all such cold "Snacks" when he could have it warm and fresh, from the Sheepfold or Poultry yard.

It was some comfort to us, that with all his thievish rapacious manners; that he possessed some other graceless characteristicks that in part modified the injury that he would otherwise have done.

A mean cowardly fear of any thing like open danger, with a constant suspicious dread of hidden snares & traps, kept him many a time, from mischief that he might have done with impunity.

His actions while living amongst the Indians, were rather short consisting with of the wounded game, that was lost by the hunter, and the slight portion of offall, that was rejected from such as was taken For the sake of this, they followed the Indians in all their migrations; gathering by the way such small game as crossed their path, consisting of a chance Skunk or Rabbit from the Prairie in the timber, and a few ground squirrels, mice, moles, frogs &c from the prairie; leaving him after all, a rather scurvy fellow. But no sooner had he fallen into civilized society, than like other publick loafers, he chose the fat side; and from a poor meager mangy wanderer, soon found himselfe transformed into a slick well fed portly fellow, with little to do than keep out of harms way, & live at his ease

The females dig burrows in the ground, in which to rear their young. They were sometimes found in the Prairie at a great distance from the timber; but were more frequently found in hilly broken grounds in the timber; especially if rocky & rugged. I have seen dens in such places, that probably had been used for ages, as it is a well ascertained fact, that a female once breeding in a den or burrow, will return to the same place for the same purpose, many years in succession; unless prevented by iminent danger

The Wolf is too wary to be easily entraped, unless the danger is most carefully concealed; and such is his accuteness of smell joined with a jealous disposition, that it must be well managed buisiness, if he is induced to swallow poison. They may however be taken, by using strichnyne, on a fresh bloody piece of Beef or Mutton; placing it in open ground, at a distance from such surroundings as might excite apprehension

The writers on Natural History, tell us of apparently concerted action amongst large packs of Wolves, in hunting excursions - apropriate to this point, take the two following instances, as illustrating his character ^{for sagacity}, as well as shewing concert of action It has been repeatedly observed, that a wolf, finding sheep in a fold would soon have them all frightened to one side of it, when he would walk carefuly round at such a distance as not to frighten them, untill he got fairly opposite them, when by a sudden rush he would drive them to the other side of the fold. By a few such repetitions, if the fold was not both strong and high, he would have it broken down, or some of the sheep forced to leap the bound. In either case his end would be answered, - he would get his mutton without going into a place, where danger might be concealed

To rob a sow of her pigs, two wolves will visit her, and approach her from different sides. As soon as the sow gives one of them chace, the other springs forward and siezes a pig; this by its cry instantly calls a hot pursuit in a different direction, which affords the wolf other wolf his opportunity, which he fails not to improve. A few repetitions of this kind, would soon releive the sow of her family, without danger to the Wolf

The Panther so far as I could learn, was unknown as a resident of Northern Ill.. No trader or traper that I met with had ever seen them in Prairie countries

Of the Lynx, report testified that one had been taken, near the mouth of Fox River (Ottawa) by some hunters, in the year 1826. Other than this I have heard of none in the state -

Of the Wild Cat we had two species, in our country holding much the same relation to each other, that the large & Small wolves do

The larger or Catamount as it was sometimes called, was the size of the Prairie wolf. Its face was round and full, its eye fierec and glaring, its neck short and forearm very strong The foot was wider by one third, than long - the claws toug & sharp It chose the most impervious ^thickets and deepest shades for its resorts

The female nursed her young in caves or burrows, amongst rocks or secluded precipitous steeps; and preyed upon such things great and small, as are common to the whole feline species

From their strength they were able, and do not doubt often did

capture yearling Deer. They have left us

The less variety, or what is more commonly called the wild Cat, was about the size of the Fox. In other respects it is the counterpart of the larger. It loves the thickets and other shady coverts, and preys on small game. The female in the absence of more secure retreats, will nurse her yound in a hollow tree or log. They still keep a kind of unsettled residence amongst us, but find their condition growing so precarious, that they will soon have to yield the point

As an instance of crafty quiet stealth, in which they could steal upon their prey; take the following In the autumn of 1834, I sat down one afternoon, under the shade of a bush I had not been long seated, when a slight sound drew my eye to the left, where I saw as I thought, a Prairie chicken creep -ing through the grass, at the distance of about one hundred and fifty feet from me. I continued my observation & soon discovered what it was. It crept softly onto the end of a log, and along it for a good distance, untill the elevation of the log, and an opening through the grass & weeds that grew along by its side, afforded it a clear view of me. It peered cautiously and carefully through, and appeared to take a deliberate survey, after which ^it in the same stealthy manner he crept back off the log, at the same manner ^end he got onto it. Being willing on my part to make what farther observation I could, I kept my position unchanged, and waited patiently for another sight. I continued thus for some time, untill at last concluding that he had taken his leave in the sly manner I had observed; I was just going to rise when a slight crackle of a dry leaf, caused me to turn my head, when I found it approching my back, and then within less than five steps of me. My sudden rising disipated the illusion, and put my cat to flight

The Fox finds his residence amongst us still safe enough, for all practical purposes - He is constantly persecuted & many hard things [illegible] against him; but bating the fact that a very young lamb or pig, might perchance become his prey; I think he should be spared for the service he does in in catching rabbits, and other noxious vermin

His little trickery, performed for his own safety & advantage, in justice should commend to our sympathy, rather than our dislike