The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-28

CONTRIBUTION 10 Cne dTblSLS III uteeS'
Mocking-birds, numbering thousands,
are always with us, and their musical
genius Is a source OF great annoyance.
d ded to this, they commit great depre-
dations upon the vineyards, and many
persons shoot them mercilessly. 1t may
not be known generally, but the m0cN-
ing-Dird is periodically convivial. once
every year, when the fruit OF the china
tree is ready for his Orgies, he Will come
attended by a goodly NUMBER OF as rak-
ish looking birds as you might wish to
see. And, having gorged themselves
with the juice OF this intoxicating berry,
they will manifest all the conditions oi
drunkenness, from the eXhIIaratlon TO
the maudlin sentimentallCy. ana hnally,
to a condition OF beastly slupelactloh;
Unlike his more intellectual rival, now
ever, he confines his sprees 10 one year,
and this seems to be an event in hts life.
rhe red bird Is with us in February,
March and April, and his scarlet jacket
is lovely picture upon the air. Troops
OF paroquets, OF gorgeous hues, I'LL the
woods IN May, darting from tree TO tree
with great rapIuity ana VoGIiefouS
screams. Not only is their pIumage
gorgeous in the extreme, but The Hesh IS
highly delectable as an article ol l0od.
| But the glory oi our forests is the FLOR
| IDA humming-5ird, representing deli
cacv ana harmony OF colors, sucl as
challenges the whole world for repro
ductiun or superiority. In sIz they are
not larger tnan the common wild bee,
and witness Loudly to the matchless
skill tnaC makes ana sustalns 50 llaSle
aud lovely an organism.
| The naLiVeS are disposed to be lndo-
lent. which may be attributed 10 the
tl.,tI IN nI
There are Two characteristic classes
| among the natyes--the "Crackep and
tle UM inorcan." The former spend their
Time principally in hunting, ana are not
|agriculturlsJs. In reply to a ques
t,on l once put to a Cracker" as 70
what was the comm N pursuit OF his
life. he said, eve live on the Yankee all
winter and fight mosquitoes all summer"
There was much truth in wDat he said,
| for "a superstition seems to have grown
m that the Yankee" was common and
lawful prey, and he has been bIed ac-
cordingly. rhls custom, which is mainly
lostered by "engralted Yankees" Is hap
ply giving way, before the growing in
| fuence of familiar acquaintance with
the Northern man. The "MinOrcan" is q
hybrid, brought in originally by
L6e English "rurnbull," to act as
the slave OIL Iue COunGIys DuJ Lue 4h l.
norcan" OF to-day is Jealous of the an
cestral reputation, and nitro-g lycerlne
never possessed more combustible
mower than does the Minorcan's wrath,
nnder the CALLING reminder of his form mer
servitude.
Our rainy season extends through
July and August, during which it rains
about an hour each day-usually be-
tween two and four Of the afternoon.
And this rain is heavens boon. At this
period, however, we suffer greatly from
| the invasion OF sand-flIes and mosqu-
tos. These, however, which are the
only disadvantage that can name, yield
readily to the persuasive power OF
smoke and netting. l have never been
able to penetrate the design in the mos
quito creation, although have heard
| Two ingenious theories advanced III eX-
planation. DR.. Hicks, in his wonderful
sermon upon "Ihe Harmony of tue Gre
| ation,n explains that they were given,
perhaps, not simply as display ol mi.
! croscOpic architecture, but especially as
| one of the disciplinary means by which
| man shall be perfected in the exercise oil
| that wonderful virtue which, according
| to the apostle, Is the substralum of hope
IL mean the virtue of patience. The
other theory is contributed by face.
ttous writer, who observes that the ma
1--we is by nature indolent, and, were il
not Tor the fever of blood superinduced
Inv the bite Of the mosquito and the ac
tiyity neeessitated for defense, the Ma
tive would die OF stagnated blood ant
sheer laziness. Either theory may bt
cnrrect. but l dare say neither was
leyolyed in mosquito time, unless 0u
jnhilos ophers were snugly ana safely
l Il IN mo- Ihprn q
however, no region in the universe whicl
amid all its attractions does not shel
ter some ugly dra" back, and this il
ours. which is limited i'll its duration
and courageously endured for the SAX
of the golden harvest and immeasuraDl
laelight of the long FlOriAa winter.
| The stories Of alligators and snake
have been very much magnitied. 1t il
well known to all who are familiar VIII
these unsightly monsters, that they ar
rank towards, rarely ii ever yolunLaril
attacking the human biped. There IS
weakness, however, In the alllgltor col
stiLution, and woe betIde the luekles
! mig or puppy that meauder 10 ward til
haunts of this huge lizard. Especial
does the succutent flesh oil young pupp
seem 10 be a tootnsome morsel, wnic
the .gator," as they are called, can no
resist, The alligators are eXtensiVel
, lhunted, both for pleasure aud on az
count of tue valuable quality Of thei
IVORY teeth; and in a little while the
will be well nigh curiosity, even anon
gu. selves.
Tue climate Of Florida is superb, an
I | | think very far tranSoendS that OF ltal,
Its influence upon healJn is remarkaDl
, and certain. TO be sure, there are fri
) ulunt belts of marsh-land, That ar
fruitful promoters ot malaria. But th
, general climate is especially salutar
, | in the treatment of all bronchial af
. tons. Last year more than eigGtee
thousand persons visited our Stat'
: principally valetudinarians. or cours
q Of all this large number some died, fG
a it is beyond the power OF eVln ou
: genial climate 10 supply new lung I'll
sues. ana tue most that can be reason
ably expected in tn0se cases that com
n because death is certain elsewhere, is
h brief respite. But il timely esOrt
: mad to the soft, Dalmy influence OF OIL
g tropical home, tue mild air OF Florid
e VIII work Il miracle.
The nights. are always cool, rendere
Il 40 bv the land breeze from The Wes
!. And the days, after Q O'Clock of til
/ | morning, are pleasant, notwlthstandin
h the nigh range vi temperature outside
/ on account Of The unl ailing sea breeZ
+ | Last summer, Wnicn was one oil unusui
:. severity OF heat, do not reeollect an
4 NV uhau our mercury rose above 03 Il,