436 EXPLORATION OF WESTERN MISSOURI IN 1854. 
tlesnakes” with Jiving dirds, which they kill and swallow readily; they will 
not touch frogs, or even dead birds, 
25th.—This afternoon J. D. Hoy, my son, and I started in a two-horse carriage 
to visit the head-waters of the Osage river. Drove twelve miles through a well 
cultivated rich hemp-growing section, and put up with William Hooks, a whole- 
souled Missourian, house and heart open. Caught two rare little frogs. 
26th.—Travelled to-day through the rain; luckily it cleared away just long 
enough for us to get a good view of the great eclipse. Near Chapel Hill, in 
a dense thicket of thorns, I first heard that charming little songster Pires bellit. 
I had much difficulty in procuring specimens, for the restless little birds kept 
flitting from one point to another continually, all the while warbling forth their 
agreeable song. From this point south we heard this bird repeatedly. Put up 
during the night at Pleasant Hill, Jackson county. 
27th—This morning we went four miles to witness the drawing of a seine in 
the north fork of Grand river. Obtained several interesting fish, and a fine lot 
of terrapins, embracing six species. Here we saw the rose bug, Melolontha sub- 
spinosa, in immense numbers, the willows being literally stripped of everything 
grecn by these pests of the agriculturist. In the afternoon we drove directly 
south over the prairie; stopped on Elm creek to fish. While engaged in the 
stream a number of our terrapins took to their legs and made good their escape; 
to our sorrow three of the species left no representatives to be forwarded to the 
Smithsonian Institution. Here we caught a species of Astacus different from any 
I ever before saw. Put up at Dr. Maxwell’s, three miles north of Harrisonville, 
Cass county, (formerly Van Buren county ;) in the evening I shot a Vespertiio 
noveboracensis, 
28th—Remained with the doctor. I caught a straw-colored snake unknown 
to me. We learned here that there are two species of “ prairie squirrels” in- 
habiting the prairies in the vicinity—one gray, the other red, called “ prairie fox 
squirrel ;’’ we did not get specimens. 
29th.—Rain, rain—continual rain! We held a council of war, and decided 
that the water in the streams was so high that it would be impossible for us to 
proceed on our contemplated route to the Little Osage, then down, va Osceola 
and Warsaw, to Versailles. Being thus headed off, we concluded to strike south- 
west into Kansas. We crossed the main Grand river at a mill, where I was told 
bats inhabited the old frame. After a deal of punching about the angles of the 
braces, I dislodged an old acquaintance— Vespertilio subulatus. There isa larger 
species inhabiting the woods here, with “ prodigiously long ears,”’ called made 
bat. This is the most northern point I heard of them. They are abundant 
about Osceola, St. Clair county. From this we drove for twenty-five miles over 
a delightful prairie, covered with beautiful wild flowers, among which the gay- 
colored Phlox glaberimum was particularly conspicuous. We drove by directzon, 
regardless of roads. I was many times apprehensive we should get into trouble; 
but my brother's practiced eye never failed to pilot us to the desired point. We 
reached the residence of Mr. Clymer, near the State line, late in the afternoon. 
30th—Drove directly west six miles into Kansas, until we came to Sugar 
river, a branch of the Marie des Cygne. The land on this beautiful stream is 
of a superior quality, and the fine sugar-maple groves gave a homelike appear- 
ance to the landscape. We caught a number of fish, notwithstanding the stream 
was rather large and flushed by the recent rains for our small nets to do good 
service. We were told this stream was celebrated for the large number of fine 
fish its waters afford. Turkeys and deer were abundant. We ate our lunch 
under the ample shade of a sugar maple, cheered by the song of a mocking bird 
and a Vireo belt. From Sugar river we drove directly north, on the old military 
trail, which leads over a well-watered, rich section of country. On the way I 
saw the only prairie reed-bird (Dolichonyz bicolor) I ever met. I followed it, in 
full chase, under a hot sun, at least two miles before I shot it. Although greatly 
