The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-04-06
ENTOMOLOGY AND REPTILIA.

Ihsd not intended, In recording these
experiences, to discourse prominently OF
the entomology and reptilia, or other OF
the natural productions of Dixie. Not
special mission of our armies there TO fight
bugs and worms and creeping things
They are referred to as ranking in the cat
egory of contingents and reserves we had
TO encounter and wherewith we we're
threatened In the outset; as supplementary
TO unfavorable climate, the " elbow jack
and other grave and peculiar diseases. sop
posing forces" are whatever embarrass'
ments and distractions Not offered
for intrinsic interests though buff
alo gnats, snakes and musquitos, the
lists flies and scorpions have your
special regard when they become Intimate
guests in your bivouac or encampment A
serious obstruction, In that they destroyed
that peace and tranquility of mind, tavora'
BILE to sleep and repose of which all were
ever In supreme need, as Indispensable to
the health and vigor of our armies. This
In addition to the disabling physical inju.
ries they sometimes inflicted.
Is aversion to the reptile tribe, dormant,
inherited instinct, or the result of educa'
ton? 1t Is exceptional where the antipa-
thy does not exist. The snake and all his
co1geners, forever inspire disgust and alb
horrence among superior people; and with
many the superstitious belief that they
emblematize enemies who seek seriously
to harm or destroy you. Never any evil
dences of other than halmlessness In the
smaller of the lizard family; the variety II
was reserved for us to meet with In south
ern Tennessee, though contemplate In
size, were somewhat alarming at first 70
those Of weak nerves." because of their
peculiar, greenish brown color, piercing,
intelligent black eyes, and their astonish-
Ing activity. No mouse was so quick and
Lizards, as class, are commonly slow
motioned. II seemed TO make Its habitat
by preference about houses and adjacent
grounds than generally abroad but liked the
woodland An alert climber, would 90 up
a tree with astonishing swiftness; jump
from tree to tree and descend as If with
wings, from surprising heights. Being
about houses we noticed they would ascend
the sides of them perpendicularly as fleet
ly as up the boles of trees, and precipitate
themselves to the ground, indifferently.
Not uncommon, sitting upon porch or I'M
covered veranda, to have them descend
from high cornice or window cap to your
feet, stop there and regard you with play
full look as If challenging attention and
sport. The inhabitants appeared as indif
fereDt to them as OF birds. Never heard
they were other than harmless. | think
they averaged about six inches long and
rather slender proportioned, with slight,
spinate ridge extending from nose to tip of
tail. Suggested that they might be
tameable
Reaching the Gulf States we came upon
the scorpion-sometimes too frequently for
our quietude of mind for they are all un.
lovely. Not desirable insect to have
around indeed vicious, by nature and repu.
tation, and not susceptible of improvement
Those who have not had the satisfaction of
examining this bad-tempered, venomous
creature, can get very good Idea of II
from pictures In almanacs, and In Web
sters Unabridged. To see It In Its com
pleteness and beauty, 1t should be observed
In ITS native haunts." For such an awk-
wardfashioned object, II presents extraor
binary and demonstrative activity. Fur
nlshed with eight legs and pair of double
crab-like claws, it does not advance back.
wards like Its cogeners, the crawfish and
ioDster' but straight forwards, bearing its
claws threateningly aloft with most decid-
cd manifestation of unmitigable hostility.
Timidity, like that Of hornbugs and other
OF the beetle variety, is no part of the ma.
ture OF this savage, implacable creature.
Its tail, which has great strength, flexibil-
ity and range of motion, 1t drsgs after its
body. 1t is armed at the extremity with a
strong, curved, hook-like sting. from
which when striking, Is injected an lrrita-
ting, poisonous fluid, causing great pain
ana inflammation, and often serious results
but seldom or never fatal-strange as this
may seem. Holding one down with an Or
binary walking stick, II would instantly
commence striking strong, welLdirected
blows on all sides Of 1t, with suflcIen,
forceto communicate decided tremor to
he hand holding it. When not on the war
path they were even more dangerous from