Birds and All Nature, Vol. 4, No. 4, October 1898: Illustrated by Color PhotographyVarious
History
Birds and All Nature, Vol. 4, No. 4, October 1898: Illustrated by Color Photography
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
Perhaps the marvelous migration of Butterflies which occurred on Oct.
3, 1898, will be more interesting to us than those already mentioned
because it happened so recently and in our own country, and perhaps,
most of all, because the reason for flight is hazarded. The inhabitants
of Wichita, Kansas, at 3:15 o'clock in the afternoon of that day were
greeted with the sight of many Butterflies flying south. Gradually the
number increased until business practically ceased, the inhabitants
all turning out to view the brilliant spectacle. The stream of yellow
and brown insects, with the accompanying purr and brilliant effects of
fluttering wings flowed on until within a half an hour of sunset, and
even after this, millions of stragglers hastened southward. But you
are interested in the reason given? They say that our little friends
were driven away from their customary haunts by the forest fires in
Colorado. This is only one more supposition to add to the list already
awaiting some enterprising student, who shall at last solve the mystery
of these wonderful flights and fully acquaint us with all the other
interesting facts which our little Butterflies are still keeping
secret.
THE ARMADILLO.
All Armadillos bear the name Fatu in the South American Guarau Indian
language. Although the name is of Spanish origin the Indian term Fatu
has also been adopted in European languages, except in the single
case of the six-banded species. They are all of more or less similar
appearance and habits. They are natives of the southern American belt,
extending as far north as Mexico, and the specimen presented here was
taken in Texas, where it is occasionally found. The Armadillos are at
home in sparsely grown and sandy plains, and in fields on the edges of
woods, which, however, they never enter. During the breeding season
they consort together, but at all other times lead solitary lives and
show no regard for any living thing except as it may serve for food.
Singular as it may appear, Armadillos do not have a regular abiding
place, and they frequently change their homes. They can dig a hole in
the ground five or six feet deep with such expedition that they are
able to have several places of retreat. The hole is circular, at the
entrance from eight to twenty-four inches wide, and at the bottom is a
snug chamber large enough for them to turn around in. They are great
night rovers and seldom move about by daylight, the glaring sunlight
dazing them. When seen during the day it is always in rainy weather
when the sky is overcast. It has been shown that Armadillos excavate
their burrows under the hills of Ants or Termites, where they are able
to gather their principal food with the greatest convenience by day as
well as by night. Besides the foregoing they eat Caterpillars, Lizards,
and Earthworms and are thus advantageous to the husbandman. Plants also
constitute a part of their diet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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