16 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



the height from which it had descended. When two or more passed 

 one another at opposite angles as frequently happened the sight 

 was beautiful in the extreme. 



The total number of species observed during these two trips, 

 within the bounds of the prairie itself, numbered about ninety-five 

 on each occasion ; while the surrounding woodlands, cultivated 

 grounds and river bottoms added so many more, that a total of 

 about one hundred and forty species were ascertained to, in all 

 probability, breed upon an area five miles square, having for its 

 centre the portion of the prairie where we made our investigations. 

 Of this grand total, only twenty-five were water-birds, the remainder 

 of one hundred and fifteen species of land-birds being, perhaps, as 

 large a number of regular summer residents as any locality of equal 

 extent in North America can boast. 



A third visit to this prairie was made early in June, 1883 exactly 

 twelve years after the first trip. The change which had taken place 

 in the interval was almost beyond belief. Instead of an absolutely 

 open prairie some six miles broad by ten in extreme length, covered 

 with its original characteristic vegetation, there remained only 160 

 acres not under fence. With this insignificant exception, the entire 

 area was covered by thriving farms, with their neat cottages, capa- 

 cious barns, fields of corn and wheat, and even extensive orchards 

 of peach and apple trees. The transformation was complete; and 

 it was only by certain ineffacable landmarks that we were able to 

 identify the locality of our former visits. As a consequence, we 

 searched in vain for the characteristic prairie birds. Upon the 

 unenclosed tract of 160 acres a common grazing ground for the 

 herds of the neighborhood Dick Cissels, Henslow's Buntings, Yellow- 

 winged Sparrows, and the Meadow-larks were abundant as ever; 

 and running in the road, now wallowing in the dust, then alighting 

 upon a fence stake, were plenty of Prairie Larks (Otocoris); but 

 shades of Audubon! equally numerous were the detestable and de- 

 tested European House Sparrow, already ineradicably established. 

 We searched in vain for Bell's Vireo, for all the thickets had been de- 

 stroyed. Neither was a solitary kite, of either species, to be seen. We 

 left our beautiful prairie with sad heart, disgusted with the change 

 (however beneficent to humanity) which civilization had wrought. 



The same is the history of all the smaller prairies in many por- 

 tions of the State; and it will probably not be many years before 

 a prairie in its primitive condition cannot be found within the limits 

 of Illinois. 



