American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-05-17
REPTILES AND INSECTS.

We wers passing by Prophets Island.
oclow Port Hudson. From the lower end
Of the islanl runs out long spit of sand !:
and a. We approached it. the cry was
heard, -Shoot the alligator shoot the ALI
&atcr! There lay one Of the patr.archs Of
Bis race stretched out comfortably on tho
annd. at le,st ten feet lon :, and Lasking
md olcntly in tho sun. The paddle wheels
Of the boat aroased him from his reverio.
when he raised his unsightly looking head
and looked unconceHnedly at US. A loud
voley Of rifle shots burst from the deck :
some of the balls plowed up the sand
about him, and some. ~ l could plainly
sec, ratified against his coat Of mail. He
took it all very coolly. wnddled down to
water and tumbled in. disappearing as
soon ae no reached 1t, and with no injury
that could bs seen
Nature has guarded these repulsive ami
mails with bulictprooi armor on the back
and sides. in the shape of Over!aying scales
or plates so that It is very difficult to ia
FEET fatal wound as they ordinarily pre-
aent themselves. A bullet in the Eye or in
the open mouth will do the business for
them. and there are other places about
them that arc not impervious to lead. l
know Of several Of them being killed by
the soldiers. Tho creature is = veritahls
'.nma'"'s' ie~an3 pre- 'A'ory lie when
alone. and is often led into disagreeabls
proximity to the dooryard. in his search for
small domestic animals. for which he has
akeen appetite since his existence shows
'na' no Nus necessary place IN tho mys
~f "a l. q
'e'"us &C monty o' nature. " y VOL 1'r
ham that he u 50 woil guarded from the
attacks Of his hannah ene,nics. OF the whole
race would Otherwise be som sxtermi-
mated. Evsry white lnan and every negro
that ever met one OF these creatures con-
sdsrs II his bounded duty to kill 1t. il pos
slole. and always does his best to that end.
while looking at the alligator in all his
hiosousness. the story OF the remarkable
adventure Of the traveller Wharton in AZ
rtca often occurred to me. 1t 10 told OF him
that On one occasion. ~ he stood on tho
shore OF . river. the negroes caught .
large crocodile with hook and laaso. and
were dra sxing it ~ iore with shout. OF tri-
unph. when Warton jumped on the AMI.
mali seaiy back A. ho emerged from the
WINTER. and >itting sstride OF him. twisted
his fore legs UP over his own shoulders,
and rode him ashore IN safety.
1has story may be true but l do not
oeAeve that the thing was ever do q DO
lore nor since. nor that 1t will ever be TO-
P~atod. For myself. would A. willingly
undertake. to climb boa constructor hang.
ing from high limb. Mob dy will pro
badly ever come forward to dispute tho
claim of Mr.. Wharton TO the fame Of an
exclusive performance Of ti,is extraordi-
hary achievement.
Tho iasect pests Of Louisiana region
wero many and gricvouA Anywhere in
tho vicinity of the swAmps the mosquitoes
came in clouds; and such mosquitoes -
we at tho North know nothing about
They are At least twice as large. and about
three ms AZ ferocious. ard capable OF
making themselves ksenly felt through
the vain protection Of netting. as we dis
covered to our sorrow. They were direful
company. and We were always glad 70 get
away from their vicinity.
Flies cnms about US in nyr;nd.. in the
hottest part of the season not our COM
mon houie-tiy but n more active, fierce
variety, which nippeti our hands and face
r ainfully. AZ Fort Hudson it was next
70 impossible for Us to -njoy any fresh
meat il became alive will, the larvse Of
these pertifer;ous creatures willie it was
being transported from the roar to the
'front.' They multiplied so fast that il
seemed as if we should bo overcome by
thon, and An expcdient VS. sometime.
rrsorted to for their de.truc,i that did
sons e, ec,it,on. The powder was r-mov-
oil firm a cartridge. poured on the ground
anil thin!y covered with sugar. In An in
slant the sugar would be black with flies.
wi on \ slow mate WAS applied. and about
= Hundred of the intruders dispatched.
Perhaps the mos. painful and irritating
Insect that we sncnun sred WAS the WOO l.
HEX. This 10 IN insi = nj 6ca mt looking ii,tio
in two partA" IL has the Lower and dis
post On 70 insert itself into the fssh of
= human being and having done 80, it
manages to hurt aboniinably. Try to evs
It out, aud you are pretty certain to remove
Dnly The lear half. leaving tho othsr mart
lr1idsd in Won varv difyicu !, tn Ia ,...L.a
and Irritating vo;, .xoui.i,rIv After N.
turin, this kind of torture for a few
hours the inoonveni-nce Of flies and mos
,uitos sinks into no<h;urns.s La III. ror,.
pnrson.
knakes. of course. ipfee. tb-s. la.:tudss
Of all sizes. co,or.. and pattern.
MANY of them very poisonous. S,.nd;p4by
he edge of q swamp YOU will see one sud.
'e"'y 'nr"s' MS he'n CUT OF inc water and
b;ck "a r.,,r ,vr;., H..