The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-26
SOME QUEER FLoRIDANs.
Animals Which Have Curious Inter-
est for Man.
Jacksonville Citizen.


On the borders of the Everglades you
often see large yellow spider. He swings
a strong web from two plant tWiss on
each side of path or clear space of ground
and waits for his prey. The web is in the
shape Of a hammock, ana taperS at each
end to fine point, though quite broad in
the middle. The bright color of the owner
seems to mark him out for destruction-he
is clearly defined against the white sand
or dead leaves, and you wonder what he
would do for defense in case of attack. APP
prOach quietly and he watches you intent
ly. Now raise your hand suddenly, and he
will disappear. While you are wondering
what became of him, you see a first blur
where he had been, then several spiders,
then you catch sight again of the yellow
ball you noticed at first. Repeat the per-
Torrance and the stage effect is renewed.
The disappearance is absolute-there can
be no doubt about it and the little magician
trusts to 1t entirely for his protection. How
is it done? AS soon as he is threatened he
starts the vibrations of his airy hammock;
these become too rapid for the eye to fol-
low, he VaniSheS. AS these become slower
you see a blur, and then several spiders as
the eye catches him at different points of
his swing, until finally he rests before you.
Haunting the rOokeries of the birds in
the southern part OF the peninsula is a
large blue crab. He makes a hole in the
ground, usually under log, and when he
hears a noise eeVateS his head and pro-
trudes his eyes with startling effect. He is
able to take care of himself, for his pincers
are powerful, and MS shell is hard-he is
often as large as a saucer. There is perpet-
ual war between him and the birds He
WdnQefS among the nests at night ana dp-
propriates the bits of fish left by the nest
lings, and the young themselves if he can
find a mother off her guard. But he has to
be sly or he is killed by the stroke of a
bayonet bill and eaten in his turn. When
the plume hunters have driven off or de-
StrOyed the parents of a rookery these
crabs swarm out and deVour the orphan
young in short order. But while the moth
erS are allowed to do their duty the crabs
are ideal scaVengers and devour the refuse
as well as the insects that infest the bird
cities. Their bright colors, like those of
the tiger make them less DANGEROUS than
their appetites would otherwise be.
There is a little purple crab along the
coasts of southern Florida which seems to
feed almost entirely upon the fruit of the
cactus. This it so much resembles that you
are suddenly surprised to see one of the
succulent little balls move away from your
fingers before you are aware that it is alive
Step back and the crab will resume its
place and seem to be as curious abo'ss YOU
you are about him.
One of the most beautiful shells found
along our coast is that of a large snail
which climbs certain trees and grows deli
cately fat the young birds The shell is
as thin tissue paper, oddly curved and
almost as transparent as the finest glass
1t belongs to the family of edible snails so
priced as a delcacy on the coast of France
and if properly prepared makes a delicious
dish. 1t is most abundant about New River
inlet, where the slight shake of a tree
about sunset will bring a shower of them
to- the ground The breakage of a she'll
seems to be of little trouble to the snail; he
repairs the damage and moves on.