The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-03-07
THE FLORIDA ERIENDS OF
HORTlCUITCRE.
BY DR. 7 >,.HsFFIsANlk
PALATkA FL0RipA.

ontario. Clrrespantiing Meuher ut the
Erie Nat. Hist. Society. Lrie, Pa. Hon"rarS
Member Of the West Virginia state fhithl-
aeeutical Association. Author Of Linda
ence lie FEetricitc sur factivite DIS nefi> tte
de la vie des plantes et dies animauN. .ainslIue
sur les maladies et h., remedies don't ot fait
usaze etc. etc.
Ill. ScANSoRES.
In this order we have only twa ,eHaefa
the Cuckoo and the Wool, ,,eckcr.
THE CUCKOO, OR RAIN, ROM.
Tho prejudice aroused against the
Cuckoo by the bad habits o. It's Enslisl.
relation, Is often fatal to the innocent
American. FOr.we ar" glad ta put NJ on
record that our Cuckoo builds its own
nest, and never leaves .hc cate aa,t y,N-
cation Of its young to Il stranger. With
us It il q shy bird. but often visits the
garden ami field in search of ii, insect
food. We trust in the future fewer
American Cuckoos will b. murdered for
the sins Of its distant cousin. II this
article will stay the hand Of even one
prejudiced enemy. then it Nill rot have
been written in vain.
THE woopPECEEH
These birds, like Saul. destroy their
thousands, aud in their Jaw and head
reside u strength which Is like unto the
power possessed 10y the jaw bone of the
Ass, when held hy him. They arc p.rse.
vering and industrious to a degree truly
wonderful, anl when vt work the blows
struck by the bills of the larger species,
ON the resounlins trunks ui tecaycl
trees, roll through the woolN lihc the
sound OF the hammer ana SAN when
Palatka was rising from h'r aches. They
rip of great chips from the tree, lay ins
bare the secret retreat of their prey, and
then into the holes of these victims they
dart their long. arrow. like tongues, spear
the wriggling worm and bring him out
to he devoured with Il chuch!e which
sounds strangely like human laughter.
and this tongue is the strongest pant of
the wOodpscker's anatomy. Thar are
two long, string-like tcndons which
reach from the tongue over the skull
and down to the root Of the noStril,, and
inside the circle thus made. Il mI,clr,
fixed at the two ends, provide the meana
Of thrusting this weapon out with amas.
ing swiftness and at great length, just
az you may move forward tie "ud of n
fishing-rod by pulling tl" l'ae which
runs from the tip to the hand. Md then
the tongue il armed with Il horny. barb.
reluctant subject with ceiiltya 'iiit hed ahfdM dM9ff! tf
tainty which is wanting To- the eIrec. Of.
tentimes Of even a woman's tongue. There
are many members of this most intcrrs.
ing family. from the great ivory.bl,cd
Woo,lpecker to the little rel-hea,l,d fel.
low, the color of whose top.kno. would
he described by some softer sounding ad.
jective il 1t were spor,ed by society
belle, and Of all his family this little
bird with the crimson plume. is the only
one who has mischicvous appetite for
oranges, and we hope even to him much
will lie forgiven, in consideration Of his
CHEEKY disposition, inccsslnt feeding Of
insects destru- i've to forests. and for his
bright appearance and familiar way.
We might enumerate other friends Of
the former among our birds, but against
those mentioned war Is ol,enest wagel bv
those who misunderstood their habits or
forget their claims to our gratitude, 50
that we will only name the nuthatch,
sparrow, meadow lark. sparrow hawk
and screech owl. All small birds de-
stroy thousands of nox;ou- insects, and
many considered sre'l eaters become cx-
clusively insectivorous during the breed.
ing season.
AMPHlBIA A-kEP1iLES.
or these we shall name as friend, Of
the agriculturist only the lizard. snake
and toad.
TIE Lizard.
This pretty little creature is, n all ca.
ses, entirely harmless. It's legs are short
yet it is swift and very ninble. II
caught by the tail it quickly throws of
that appendage and continues its flight. !
II 1t escapes the tail is soon replaced.
having an objection Ia "A 'bob.tall'' exis.
tence. Unlike the frog it undergoes no
after the hatrhn, Of the |,
egg, but spends its summerin aiiins the
farmer in his war on the insects and in .
sleeping through the winter in some
sheltered place. We have several yati- .
eties but all are harmless and all ar, in /
pectivorous.
SNAKES.
The subject Of snake. in Florida has
been enlarged upon by all who wish, for .
any reason, to hit us IA blow Bnt all. 7
the smaller species. feed upon
insects and small animals which ar en-
emies to the farmer, and scarcely one
snake in fifty deserves the hatred with
which its kind is visited. by the cr,oi
and thoughtless According to tho cat.
aloyue published by Baird & Girard there
arr l1S species Of serpents inhabiting
a.