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drink to thirsty travelers on the plains or prairits. It is said that 

 from the cusioni of thirsty travelers suclviii^ water through hollow 

 reeds from th<? crayfish holes the State of Illinois received the name 

 of the "Sucker StJite." The crayfish and shrimp are also decidedly 

 beneficial in becoming the food of certain carniNorous tishes, such as 

 the bass, pike, pickerel, sunfish. trout and others. Therefore, tlie 

 creature that would feed upon the crayfish or the fresh water shrimp 

 and reduce the number of these in a stream would be reducing the 

 further supply for some of our valuable game and food fishes. In 

 this slight regard the Turtles feeding extensively upon th'cse in- 

 vertebrates have not proven as beneficial in their feeding habits as 

 have other species that confine their diet mostly to insects. It is 

 important to note that eight ditTerent species of Turtles were found 

 eating the crayfish and fresh-water shrimps. Among these were two 

 specimens of the Common Soft-shelled Turtle, twelve of the Snapper, 

 one Map Turtle, three Painted Turtles, three Wood Turtles, eight 

 Speckled Turtles and one Common Box Turtle. 



The Pill-Bug, which is a common insect-like creature belonging to 

 the Sow-Bug family, living under boards and in damp places, and 

 feeding mostly upon decaying vegetable matter, was eaten by a 

 specimen of Wood Turtle. Millipedes or thousand-legged worms, 

 which feed mostly upon decaying vegetable matter, were eaten by 

 four Wood Turtles, one Speckled Turtle and eight Box Turtles. 

 Spiders were devoured by two Speckled Turtles. 



Insects formed the most important and interesting element in the 

 food of many si>ecies of Turtles and Lizards. Of each kind of these 

 Reptiles of which specimens were examined some representative** 

 were found to have eaten insects, excepting the Map Turtle, of 

 which only one was examined, and which contained only a crayfish, 

 no insects. In many stomachs there were considerable quantities 

 of fragments which were so broken as to be unrecognizable. This 

 is illustrated in the twenty-two specimens of turtles containing un- 

 determined fragments of mature insects. 



The Ephemerids, or May files, are interesting insects, which in the 

 young stage are nymphs, living active Wvqs in water, and when 

 mature have a short or ephemeral existence as winged creatures. 

 They have no objectionable traits or efl'ects, and may be considered 

 beneficial from the fact that they form an important element in the 

 food of fishes. Two specimens of the Speckled Turtle wvre found to 

 have fed upon Mayflies. 



The Odonata or Dragon Flies are the insects that are commonly 

 called Snake Doctors, Snake Dragons. Winged Darning Needles, 

 Snake Feeders, etc. In the immature stage they live as active 



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