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170 



THE ILLIIN^OIS F-^HIVIER. 



tics, packed in regular tiers by the 

 wagon load, where doubtless the Indians 

 bad their armory of offensive and de- 

 fensive weapons. 



In this collection are several speci- 

 mens of minerals; among thera zinc and 

 iron ores. The latier is supposed to be 

 in sufficient quantity to warrant work- 



ing. 



Schuyler county turned out well at 

 this Fair. On the camping ground are 

 over seventy teams; among the stock, 

 horse, agricultural implements and fruit 

 they are well represented. 

 Fossils. 



Prof. A. II. Worthen, the State 

 Geolog'St, has a large collection of fos- 

 sils, the most prominent of which are a 

 fine show of crinoids, erabracinfj about 

 two hundred species; al<o a collection of 

 the mollusca, and plants of the coil 

 measures. In Europe, the fossils of the 

 coal measures show that the coal was 

 formed beneath fresh water, while ours 

 were formed benea!;h the briny ocean 

 Avhich at one period, doubtless swept 

 over all this region. There are also 

 mollusca of the mountain limestone, 

 numbering over two hundred species, all 

 of which are marine. To the surprise 

 of old fogyism, our geologists have dis- 

 covered fossils representing over a hun- 

 dred species of fish belonging to the shark 

 tribe in the carboniferous rocks of our 

 own State. 



Mr. C. D. Wilbur, the Secretary of 

 the State Natural History Society, also 

 exhibits a fine collection of fossils repre- 

 senting the Silurian and Devonian rocks 

 at Oswego, Kcndail connty. The out- 

 lines of these fossils are the most per- 

 fect that we have ever seen, no engraver 

 could make them more so, and the fine 

 lines are particularly distinct. The col- 

 lection number some four hundred varie- 

 ties. A collection of seven specimens of 

 gyrocera are also worthy of especial no- 

 tice as being of rare excellence. Thirty 

 species of coral are in the group. — 

 They have all been taken from a mile 

 section on Fox River, which shows what 

 Avonders of the earth's crust may be 

 brought to light by diligent study and 

 persevering effort. 



FERNS FROM THE COAL MEASURES. 

 A collection of ferns by Mr. Wilbur, 

 are most beautiful and display the mag- 

 nificent^ floia of the olden time; they 

 embrace two hundred specimens. 



CRYSTALS. 



A large case of splendid crystals (car- 

 bonates) from the Quincy^limestone col- 

 lected by Mr. W^ilbur. In the same 

 case is a large array of gcodcs from 

 Hancock county. 



FOSSILS AGAIN. 



A collection from the lead bearing 

 rocks, from Carroll county, by James 

 Shaw, and another from Lee county from 

 the Trentou limestone by Dr. Everett, 



of Dixon, are both extensive and inter- 

 esting. In the last collection is a large 

 Orthocera, fifteen feet in length, (a 

 chambered shell fish like the modern 

 Nautilus. ) This monster swam in the 

 ancient Silurian seas, and is now chans- 

 ed to stone to be gazed upon by us. If 

 he would give up the history of the past, 

 hovf wonderful Avould be the story ! 



COLLECTION OF WOODS 



numbering one hundred and five species 

 indiginous to the State. Each specimem 

 gives a view of the fiber, cross section 

 and of the bark, accompanied by the 

 leaf and fruit; altogether ene of the 

 most interesting collections in the Hall. 

 The collection was made by Dr. Bren- 

 del, of Peoria, one of the leading Bota- 

 nists of the day. Dr. B. is a German, 

 and is well known on both sides of the 

 Atlantic. To his exertions at an early 

 day, is due the organization of the Nat 

 ural History Society. Long may he 

 live to enjoy and extend its benefics. 



USEFUL MINERALS. 



Lead and zinc ores are the most prom- 

 inent, and nearly all are from the vicini- 

 ty of Galena. By far the largest col- 

 lection of ores is from Missouri. We 

 notice first a prroup of mngnetic ores 

 from Shepherd's mountain. On the 

 shelf above is a large array of Pilot and 

 Iron mountain ores; and beside them a 

 platform filled with specimens of iron in 

 all stages of manufacture, from the 

 very extensive iron works of Chouteau, 

 Harrison & Valle, of St. Louis, Mo. — 

 Other extensive collections of iron ore 

 are present from Maidson cointy, Mo. 

 All these fossils and minerals, we are 

 most happy to learn, will be moved to 

 the Natural History Society's room at 

 Bloomington. 



We cannot leave this Hall without 

 payina; tribot'^ to a young Illinois Artist, 

 Mr. J, E. Bryant, of Princeton, Bureau 

 county. He is the son of M. Arthur 

 Bryant, and nephew of the illustrious 

 poet, and his pallet has added no small 

 attraction to this department. His 

 sketches comprise three specimens of 

 Geological scenery. The first is that of 

 "Starved Rock," so well known in tho 

 legends of Indian warfare ; second, 

 "Pilot Knob,'' a mountain of solid iron, 

 from which the fast revolving wheels of 

 our machinery and the rails -for our iron 

 ways will be supplied, when the great 

 West shall become the seat of empire, 

 and the trade of the Orient shall p ly 

 tribute to the prairie slopes. The third 

 is a prairie scene near Bloomington, 

 taken from the residence of C. R. Over- 

 man, looking to the south-west; it ex- 

 hibits in the back-ground a view of the 

 State Normal School, in which is loca- 

 ted the State Natural History Museum. 

 MASTADON. 1 



We came near over-looking the re- j 

 mains of the Mastadon, a species of the 



•lephant found near Aurora, Kane coun- 

 ty, consisting of two tusks and eight 

 teeth. The tusks are eight feet in 

 length and weigh two hundred pounds 

 each. The monster, when alive and in 

 its glory, must have been twenty-three 

 feet in length and fourteen fe -t high. — 

 Beside it is a painting, one fourth life 

 size, taken from the Natural History of 

 Prof. Agassiz. 



TUB EDITORIAL STAFF. 

 The number of editors visiting this 

 Fair is unusually small, politics, no 

 doubt, confining them at home. The 

 names of those calling at the Sanctum 

 we give below : 



B. F. Webster, Alton Courier. 



Geo. W. Tuihill, aUtte Jotntiitl, Springfield. 



M. L. Uuiilap, /l/inoiH J-tiinier, S|>riiigfit;ld. 



Jas. T. Kly, I'lenxaud T)Uiuiie, Cliiciigo. 



0. T. Chase, 'I imex aiiti Herald, CliicaK". 



K. K. Joins, Quiiicy ifliig <nid Republican. 



Charles I), linigtluu, J'taiiie tarmer, Chicxgo, and Cor. 

 of jV. Y Tribmie. 



Edfjar Sanders, Chicago Cor. Country Gentleman, Alba- 

 ny, New York. 



Win. Dunlap, Cor. Foiiniain Ledger, Attica, Ind. 



F. P. Coe, M D., Cor. WiUiamst/n Journal, Ct. 



J. P. Biidlo, St. I oui-1 RfyMev. 



E. 'J'. Bridges, Eveniity Juurnal, Chicago. 



W. M. Springer, Cor. HUite liegixter. 



D. 8. Morse, Ford t'ountu Journal. 



3. S. BoarduiuD, RepttOlican and Telegraph, 'Da.nvWle, 

 Illiuois. 



E. P. Sanders, Z'f'wocroi, Pana, 111. 



L. S. Walbridge, St. Louin UepiiOlican. 

 Alex, tia.nes, A'eica Lttter, Moacoutab, St. Clair county, 

 Illinois. 

 Joh:» S. Weed, Transcript, reoria. 

 W. S. Pope, Uock ItiKet Preim. 

 JoMah Boiiham, ^wmerx' Advocate, QtAt&z^. 

 Wni. K. beck, Metidnta '/h-^'errtr. 

 R. WoKott, (jute City, Ket.kuk, Icwa. 

 Wm. II. CMXm, JiickHonviUe Journal. 

 Ueni-y Stiiges, Lhiciilii Jjemld. 

 N. M. Knapp, Scott County Atus. 

 W. fctuart Goodno, Aort/iwetterii J'ulpit. 

 S. O. Nesbilt, State /Jemociut, i^pringfield. 

 Win. Bross, l're>m and. Tribune, Chicago. 

 J. F. Meginness, CarlinviUe S/iect<itor. 

 J. C. O'Weil, Aft. Sterling Uuioii. 

 James Shoatf, Magnet, Decatur. 

 S. F. Briggs, L'liion, Virginia, Cass county. 



R. M. Uaskinson, ol'ilushville, Schuy- 

 ler county, exhibited a few specimens 

 of small fruits, but not having the re- 

 quired quantity -was not allowed to com- 

 pete for a premium. His name was 

 wanting or we should have noticed them 

 in their regular order. 



TWENTY-EIGUT HEAD OF DEVOXS ON EXniBITION. 



The first in the stalls of this herd are 

 two yoke of thorough- bred North Devon 

 oxen, which are part of the team of five 

 yoke which were on exhibition last year 

 at the State and National Fairs. These 

 oxen have been reare'd and kept by the 

 breeder to show one of the most valuable 

 points in this breed of catlle not gener- 

 ally understood in this country, and in 

 order to do away with the impression 

 that they are a small breed of cattle. — 

 Two yoke of this team have already 

 gone into market, one yoke weighing 

 4,240 lbs., and the two remaining yoke 

 will, when fattened, reach beyond these 

 figures. It is in the shape of working 

 steers that they are the most valuable 

 for beef of any other breeds. Worked 

 on the farm until seven or eight years 

 of age they are at maturity and com- 

 mand the highest price. The next stall 

 contains the imported bull May Boy, a 

 bull of remarkably fine points who has 

 received numerous first prizes. He was 



