Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-08-11
NATURAL HISTORY.
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plOEbSC. III q iutl4btI XII tttiCiGS. 10 IuF-
nish brief sketches of The native animals of
this Territory, selected from good author-
ties. The natural history of our new coun-
Try, and especially the animated portion of
il, is well calculated 10 interest those who
may come among us, either for permanent
or merely temporary purposes.
THE BADGER.
The ordinary length of the Badger is about
two feet and a hall, and Of the tail six inch
cs. fhe body and legs are thick, the latter
being very shor:-thc claws OF the fore feet
long, strong, and straight, which fit it for
burrowing. The ears and eyes are small.
The skin is Of uniform gray on the back,
sides and tail--the lower parts and limbs
are entirely black. The hair is of a coarse
and bristly texture. The principal food of
the badger IS roots, fruit, grass, insects, and
frogs. 1t sleeps during the day in its bur
row which is always formed in some Sc
qucstered place. From this animal, altho'
it is not found in large numbers, the people
OF Wisconsin have already acquired dis
tinctive and familiar cognomen.
TIE COMMON RAJ
10 onuur the size of 4 small mouse, and
measures nearly nine inches from Zip to tip
of It's expanded wings. The ears are short,
and the eyes very small. The fur is reddish
mouse color. ltspends the winter in state
of torpdity, without motion, suspended in
some DARK hole by one of its feet. During
this state, the circulation Of, It's blood is so
slow, that its motion is hardly perceptible.
In this condition the bat continues till the
insect tribes, which are his principal food,
are again on the wing, when he flies abroad
in the evening, with 4 keen appetite, in
search of food. The bat Is not found i'll
large numbers in Wisconsin.
THE BLACK BEAR.
This animal is found principally in nor
Mera Wisconsin. In size and form, he APP
breaches nearest to the brown bear; but his
color is a uniform, shining, jet black, except
Oh The muZzle, where it is Iawn-colored; Oh
the lips ard side of tie mouth il is almost
gray. The hair, except on the muzZle, is
long aud straight, and is less shaggy than
in most other species. The young ones,
however, are first of bright ash color,
which graduaii-- changes into a deep brown,
and ends by becoming a deep black. The
black bear lives a Solitary life in forests and
uuCulllNaltu uCocItS, ana subslStS Oh iIultS,
and on the young shoots and roots OF yege-
tables. OF honey he is exceedingly fond;
and as he IS an expert climber, he scales the
lolticst trees in search of il. Fish, too, he
delights in, and is often found in quest of it
on the borders of lakes and the sea shore.
When these resources tal, he viii attack
small quadIupeds and even animals OF some
magnitude. As, indeed IS usual III such
eases, his love OF flesh grows with lis use.
THE BISON
or American bulidlo, rs 1t Is sometimes
styled, Was formerly resident Oh Niseon-
SIN, but has been extinct for many years.
An extraordinary fall Of snow, which COW
cred the country 10 tie depth OF thirty feet,
IS said to have destroyed large numbers of
them. and heir bones may he seen, at this
day, bleaching oa tae pra'r.cs. J suspect
t,1al those paths leading across the pfaIrIca,
which are hHo"n ~ : Inu'an trals, ana
which are worn 70 the dsPth OF SIX inches
or more nto a@ SOIL, were rather formed ny
the Baons; d beng na'"r4. Tor mat class OF
anjmals % form regular paths--as those
who are acquainted with tie habits OF oxen
ana cows can testify rs tAe bisoh Is h"'
no" io"na N our territory u y hee"'c7s g
enter into detail OF its appearance anu
character.
THE WILD cat
Which abound5 IN the Territory STANDS
high upon IFS leg ana mas snort tan curry
ed upwards at Tie eN'Fcn'ily' IN o'iieF re-
sPecis' u much resembles 'i'c doInesuc ra'.
II is ahonl t"o leet IN length WIN a tan Oh
little more than three inches. 1t lives prln-
cipaIiy in wooded districts, and devours
birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other small ami
mails.
TIE COUGAR.
The Cougar Puma. Fan''ef' or as he
was once called tine American Lion is I'M
dou5tcdly resident q J" isronsln' although
] have never heard OF one t'at was Killed
here: however, good witnesses profess to
have seen them at short distances. The
Ie2gth Of the toay OF the Cougar is about
four tce., ana It's he.ghl somewhat nof1 man
..p - '. 81 ~ ra;n, III beaI ;s