The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-10

81 the animal kingdcm, but with spe-
,ial force 10 rs smaller members. The
tigers and tiger-cats. Notwithstanding
that they we're frequent visitors 10 the
camp. entering the tent and even dur
Ing he last few nights OF my stay tho
house Itself. win endceyor 70 escape
nom man on most occasions. but the
ioas. jlggers. golofaa. goropaias and
mosquitoes know neither fear nor rest
In the region where we spent the EOS;
d our time.
Reference has already been made 70
he abundance OF serpenis as seen whon
they are disturbed by the lnundation Of
their meadows. The forests are equally
full OF them. We would encounter them
In the pathway; they climbed upon the
trees and bushes. especially those over
hanging the water: they were constant
visitors to the camp. entering the tenl
or house. and then even lived In num-
bers In the palm leaf thatch. Nine
coral snakes we're removed In replacing
the roof Of the house next adjoining
ours
An erroneous idea exists a. TO the
harmloesness Of the alligator. and Il Il
strange that this should have beer
largely promoted by writer's on natura
history Not only are these creatures
large and numerous about the delta
but they are very ferocious and. espe
sially during the Matching season. thel
are not slow in attacking man. EveI
the smaller members Of the lizard fam
ny are In some cases reported venom
Gus and certainly DO not lack the dispo
sltlon 10 attack human beings. as VI
ascertained by personal observation
No one Is. OF course. surprised 10 I'm
fer0city among the reptiles. but Il doe
appear strange to zee the birds. armoN
with sharp and powerful spikes upol
the wings and even with horns upoi
the head, Although the latter may no
be used for oficnse the former certain
ly are and constitute very formidabl
weapons. Birds OF prey are exceed
lngly numerous In this region and hay
good reason for being woel armed. 10
the objects OF their attention are q
many n not most cases Fitted for max
Ing a desperate resistance.
Although these visible evidences q
warfare are 30 conspicuous about tn
lower OrinOco. Il Ia beyond the reac
Of our ordinary observation. within n
various waters OF this strange regloi
that the most desperate conflicts ar
waged. Surely nothing can exceed
interest the combination Of provision
for rapid and changing movement an
OF offensive and defensive armamen
possessed by the animals Of N
streams and pools. The marriott. n
principal food ish there found. has
pair ofiusks like those Of the Wild boa
some two inches In length. sharp an
powerful. and these are supplements
By a set OF powerful molars for heay
grinding. The scissors hsh" has
cutting under edge to SO neeioral a.
which closes down by a succession Z
notches. each holding the cutter AZ N
point reached by each successive mu.
cular contraction. The waters swari
with electric cells. though these are nj
nearly so dangerous as are general
believed. The carlbhsh. or piranhal
: with lnierlocklng triangular teetl
massive head and Jaws and a feroeli
which FOR vigor and persistence
equaled only by that Of the bulldog
the entire animal kingdom, swarms
most Of the pools and renders deaf
practically certain 10 any one obl.sa
10 make his way by swimming for an
considerable distance In a pool whei
!. they abound.