HIGH PRAIRIE 



289 



situations in Iowa. The green snake (Liopeltis vernalis) is the most 

 characteristic reptile. The prairie rattlesnake or Massasauga (Sis- 

 trurus catenatus) was formerly common (22). 



Eight nesting birds, all of which are quite familiar to everyone, occur. 

 The bobolink nests in a bunch of grass. It feeds upon flea-beetles, 

 weevils, ants, bees, wasps, and grasshoppers of the field stratum. The 

 meadow lark feeds on parasitic hymenoptera, including the parasite of the 

 May-beetle, ground beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, weevils, spiders, etc. 

 The dickcissel is similar in habits. The grasshopper sparrow feeds on 

 long-horned grasshoppers, flea-beetles, cutworms, and parasitic hymen- 

 optera. The vesper sparrow feeds upon moths, flies, ants, beetles, 

 grasshopper eggs, etc., and grain and weed seeds. The nighthawk 

 builds no nest, flies at twilight, and feeds chiefly upon ants. The 



296 



Fig. 296 — The adult of the wasp which 

 is parasitic on the May-beetle grubs 

 (Tiphia vulgaris) (after Forbes). 



Fig. 297. — The larva of the same (after 

 Forbes). 



prairie chicken is the most characteristic bird. Its nest is a simple 

 hollow in the grass (Fig. 295). The prairie horned lark builds a nest 

 lined with thistledown and feathers. The lark bunting nests in a tuft 

 of grass. 



All of the mammals noted in the subterranean stratum should be 

 added here, as nearly all of them feed largely in the ground and field 

 strata. 



The field-mouse (Microtus ochrogaster Wagner) (21) is a resident of 

 the ground stratum. Its nest is a pile of grass fragments on the ground. 

 The species feeds chiefly upon grasses and cultivated plants. The 

 bison {Bison bison Linn.) is the most characteristic mammal. Thompson- 

 Seton says that the bison population of North America was originally 

 75,000,000. This animal generally went in clans or families which are 

 said to have had characteristics of their own. An old cow was the 



