esteemed by the women folks and altogether “an odd mixture of small shrewdness and simple credulity.” The practical joke upon Ichabod, which led to his departure from the theater of his courtship and to ignominy, became the foundation of a superstitious legend among the old country-wives.
Ichneumon (ik-nū′-mon), a flesh-eating quadruped, having a long, slender body, small head, sharp nose, rounded ears and short legs. The species are numerous, and are natives of Africa and the warmer parts of Asia. They feed on small animals, reptiles, eggs and insects. Once the Egyptian ichneumon was a sacred animal, and with its relative, the mongoose of India, was supposed to destroy serpents and poisonous reptiles. Many wonderful fables are told of its power. The ichneumon is easily tamed, and is useful in keeping the house free from rats and other vermin.
|
| ICHNEUMON FLY |
Ichneumon Flies, insects with four membranous wings, that have the habit of laying their eggs in or upon other insects. In this way they destroy many insect pests. All are parasites upon other insects; as a rule, upon those injurious to vegetation. Caterpillars are especially subject to their attacks. The eggs are frequently placed in their little cases upon the skin of insects. After hatching, the larvæ bore their way into the insects and feed upon the blood and juices of their host. The insects thus attacked die, and the small flies come out. The ichneumon family includes minute forms and large ones. The largest one in the United States is an insect of remarkable appearance, with a slender body and three long filaments at its hinder end. The body is about two and one half inches long, and the extreme length from tip of antennæ to tip of filament is ten inches. The middle filament is an ovipositor to aid in laying the eggs. It is armed with a file at the tip. With this instrument the insect bores into trees (see illustration) infested by the larvæ of another insect, viz., the pigeon tremex, which does so much harm to shade-trees. When the burrow of one of these is found, an egg is deposited in it. The larva which hatches creeps along the burrow and attaches itself to the tremex larva, which it destroys by sucking its blood.
I′da, Mount, a high mountain range in Asia Minor, extending from Phrygia through Mysia into Troas. Near its base was the city of Troy. From Ida as their source many famous streams flow, including the Granicus and the Scamander. Mount Ida is celebrated as the scene of many Greek legends. Situated in Crete is another Ida, 8,055 feet high. Here Zeus, the chief god of the Greeks, was said to have been educated.
I′daho, the “Gem of the Mountains” or, from its peculiar shape, the “Panhandle State,” is in the extreme northwest of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Canada; on the east by Montana, the crest of the Rocky Mountains and Wyoming; on the south by Utah and Nevada; and on the west by Washington, Oregon and Snake River. Its greatest length, north and south, is 480 miles; east and west, 325 miles. Its total area is 84,600 square miles. The population numbers 325,594.
Surface. The diverse surface makes Idaho scenery more varied than that of any other state in the Union and the peer in sublimity and grandeur of Switzerland. It has lofty mountains, some heavily timbered, some snow-capped the year round; sheer canyons with granite walls; upland meadows with tall grass, extensive plateaus; fertile valleys low foot-hills, suited, in the north of the state, both to summer and winter crops of wheat; lavabeds, the wonder of geologists; opal fields; placid lakes wooded to the very water's edge; large rivers; hot and mineral springs noted and developed for their medicinal properties and used to heat the houses in winter; and falls not surpassed in volume of water and depth by anything but Niagara. A large majority of the surface lies below an elevation of 5,000 feet.
Climate. The varied topography determines the climate, which is extremely diverse in different districts. It is extremely healthful and is noted for the invigorating quality which makes the most efficient work possible throughout the year. The winters, except at great altitudes, are neither severe nor protracted, and the summers are everywhere free from the humidity which makes the middle west and eastern states so trying.
Natural Features. The state has two drainage-systems, the more important emptying into the Pacific and the other into Great Salt Lake. The principal river, the Snake, winds for 850 miles through Idaho, 200 of these miles being navigable. There are about 60 mountain peaks and ranges and 20 lakes.
Towns and Railroads. Idaho's population is distributed through 23 counties. Boise, the capital, has 17,358 inhabitants. Other important towns are Wallace, Lewiston, Coeur d'Alene and Pocatello. There are 11 railroads, the chief being the Great North-
