The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-04
SUMMER SPORT IN FLORIDA.
THE heirs. pIRDS. PUAfAS, AND FISHES
IN DE SOTO'S OLD EMPIRE
wild Bcnsts Seeking the Ocean Bcach-The
Flights Of Gnme and Song Birds-tiouds Of
Mosquitoes and Other Annoying Insects.

Wild Bcnsts Seeking the Ocean Bcnch-The
Flight. Of Gnme and song Birds-tiouds Of
Mosquitoes and Other Annoying Insects.
From me Nee io,k ei.,tpaD
The approach Of the summer months on
the eastern coast Of Florida develops a now
source OF nmusemcnts for sporting gentlemen.
Bears leave the inland settlements and gather
on the ocean beach. They uxurato upon king
crabs turtle eggs and great fish stranded on
the shore. They find fish toothsomc delicacy
and supplement II with n dcsscrto f raw palmetto
berries. The beach Is one vast thickct OF pal
mcttocs. The berries are rs large as the end Of
n mans thumb. and very nutritious and fatten-
ing.
pumns and tiger eats alao frequent the beach
in the summer months They sulsist on crabs
and nsh. and frequently nail the young deer
that browse upon the mangrove buds. The
islands skrtng the inner rim OF the beach line
are covered with mangrov"s and while the buds
arc tender. deer throng to Thorn 10y hundreds
Tho water surrounding these islands il shoal.
and immense salt water marshes stretch north
and south very near them. In early spring
these innrshcs are nlive with wldgcon. gr'rn-
winged teal. maards. and other ducks They
are luvorite feeding grounds for English and
yellow legged snipr, ana countless snowy hGr-
ducks and snipc wing their why north. and
fairy stills and rosratc spoon bills tnkc their
places Gndwits ibis willcts scissor bills and
armies Of pumcd herons-blue. white and
bronz'-stalk along the shores Of the creeks.
which are filed with spawning fish. Tho ALI
gators hatch their young and catch long maps
in the sunshine. while Hooks OF screaming par
ouuots and delicate nonparcils hold merry cnr-
niVals over their heads. The hooking birds
give their iicdglings first lesson in music. Tho
| old birds sit on the shady branches OF wild or.
angc trees and pipe to the new beginners Tor
! hours. When the novice begins To utter It's first
tremulous notes the parents raise pcans Of joy.
and the young ones make fresh efforts until the
] trees illlpd with sweet music.
| Young brools Of wild turkeys pipe in the
p~rs and woodticks. The rarc ivory-biIled
| woodpccker and his black-billed brother drum
the trees. Brillinnt plumaged cardinals, mel
birds hop from limb to limb. while brOods Of
young quail trail around the thickets.,
Tho great gray gull scars In from the ocean.
| and the common tern gives place to it's lesser
| brother. whose graceful movements and dove
| like color equally charm the eye. Fleets OF sill.
worry pelicans ride upon the tide and scores Of
ermine birds watch their movements with joni
Gus eyes Great bald eagles swoop through the
! their fishing grounds Tho night heron loads
/ the darkness with strange sounds. and the
shrill VIII ippoorwill and chick willis widow add
/ their notes to the concert stray fiamingoes
wander ~, from the Keys and are lost in the
] Marshes Brond faced owls hold lightly trysts
/ nud elapper rails and marsh hens dart under
/ the mangroNH bushes. Tint strange bird tue
] lmpkin. clattors It's castinets on the fresh
water strcam-. and iubherly buZzards DOE ON
! dead limbs Tho Mexican eagl" robs them OF
their plundcr. while airy mran.ol-war hawks
/ kite chaSes the humming mosquito. and marsh
| hawks dart upon molcs and wood rails.
Fishes p,ur IA from the OCEAN. The spotted
/ bass and dotted sea trout skirm.sh along the
creeks. Gorgeous snhpurrs. wild-ryri group.
crs. AM losl l.w-iish luik among hnhmcrgcd
/ and hruud-hrain"d mullci I'LL the lagouns. Great
/ drum-ii-h scour the shadows. keeping NJ an
eternal tattoo The silvery lady FISH leaps from
tn" water Ike salmon. and the flexible ribbon
/ is. shoots Itself through lonely channels. Tho
/ chopper Sleeps IN shady noohs and silver scaled
flTIllu exhibitions tidal tsuIitsS Tile
I whiting and sea bass retire 20 deep water. and
| as |ci,t. with tho -ireniucr -mouthod ,qu-f.h
/ Nnraclous sharks and huge numbering saw
FISH tread the main channel III search II prey.
| and spurtiVe porpo'ses rulhrk over III" bays.
the waves in futile efforts to rid themselves oi
annoying sucker fish Schools Of golden cavallo
Tho swarmng mnllet. The striped sergeant
fish. or saltwater mus alongc. II ON the ga
rirs. and the electrical founder sleeps upon the
Hats at high water, iompcnn Hash ~ me sun
light and the rainbow hucd angel-ilsh CONE
mun"s in deep. still pools.
Near the mouths OF the st. Sebastian and st.
l.uctc the monsiruus manatce rcars its young.
II feeds upon tho COARSE grass ON the bottom oi
the rivers. and j. frequently stranded ON the
bars. 1t resembles sea lion. hut it's nose Is
more Ike the nose OF cow, and liz fippers are
longer and stronger II frequently Httains u
weight Of 1000 pounds. and. though perfectly
harmless. has been known To- upset boat IN its
cnu rte tu escape annoyance.
w nm alt those attractions Florida ought To bo
summer paradise for spurismcn. But there
are draw ba rs. Tho air IS h.pck with mosdui-
Jlggcr- AZ" not unknown. Ilcks oi all sizes
and coiors. and dccillous Of red bugs hurrow
IN u man nrSn. scorpions visit his tent. and
Neuomou- snakes may lr in wait Tor him. Ne
/ cNagg"tailon can equal the truth about the
/ mosquitoes Natives assure nae they have
: raised their guns To- shoot and the barrels and
4 sight were covered before they could get a m
Al Turtle Mound have landed and seen the
mosquitoes rails" like cloud and approach me
I In ten seconds my clothes were So covered that
/ nay companion could not Distinguish the color
] Dogs spend hours lying on the barely covered
sand bars with nothing but their noses abov,
water Inuy have been known Ia run round q
the annoying insects. Horses On the scacoas
are So pestorod that they frequently break lOos,
and run into the pinry woods for miles
before stopping. Cattle cluster together
NJ night for mutual protection. and those on tho
outside light TIL broad daylight in efforts 10 at
tam a central position. Poultry fly from III,
rOOsi IN tine morning with combs. legs. and toes
the blood from them at night. Families hav,
been driven nearly To insanity. The bars are
made of unhleached cotton cloth, and there cal
be no ventilation. In close nights II ~ lnlpos
sihlr to sleep under them. and the victim wuul'
rather run the risk with the mosquitoes than
smother. In some cases bnrs within bars arr
used, for the insects are so thick that mlllioui
steal in while the prosecuted man II crawlinl
e. cpVpr Nor u this all. fieas. horsctii,s, ant
dcrriWPs annoy the sportsman. The soil scent
To- be- composed Of neas. and tn" mir seems TO b,
made Of insects. There are thousands that d'
not sting and hundreds not mentioned that do
or course there arc days when strong win,
these annoyances. And at such times. II he car
wait for them he will find such sport on thi
coast as in Als hours OF sleep he never dreamed
XIsKA