The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-03
TROPICAL CREATURES
SOME OF THE CREEPING ANIMALS
OF THE COUNTRIES ABOUT
THE EQUATOR
BIG LAND CRABS OF BELIZE

In Some of the Hot Southern COun-
tries 1t Is Unlawful to XIII a
Buxzard - The RattIesnake Not
Worms - The Scorpion and the
Tarantula.
Our soldiers in Cuba has no admira-
ton for the big land-crabs, and GER
tainly those creeping creatures are not
attractive, says Alice Plongeon in the
New York Post. They are, however,
useful allies Of the buzzards, repulslve
scavangers that consume decaying
bodies which would otherwise produce
dire pestilence. There Is considerable
difference between these two scaven-
gers. The buZZard is an absolute craV-
en-, fearful even of it's own ugly shadow
and touches nothing that Is not already
decaying; while the crab, when rave
nous, seeks prey, devouring live kittens
and other helpless small things. At
Belize, British Honduras, there is an
annual swarm of small land-crabs; the
negroes then catch as many as possible
and keep them in barrels, sailed, for
future consumption. The hermit crab,
common in those lands, Is objection
able for other reasons-its palatable
flesh often proves poisonous to the mis-
guided one who enjoy it. The hermit
monopoliZes any empty shell Of con-
Verient shape, and uses it as NOV
able cell, until his growth compels him
to seek a larger one 1t Is odd to see a
reriWinkle shell, several inches in di-
ameter, steered over the ground by one
projecting crab-claw which, kept busy
out of doors, grows much bigger than
the other, sheltered and inactive.
In hot countries, where thorough SAN
itery measures are not taken, land
crabs and buzzards serve a great pur-
pose, and this is so well recognized
that in some communities it is unlaW-
full to kill carrion bird-a fine being
imposed for the offense. Ugly mala-
dorous and timid, this creature can
arouse only disgust and pity. Decid-
edly distance lends enchantment" to
the bEzZard's appearance, for when
soaring on high it's circling flight is adj
mirably graceful. But a company Of
these scavengers catches sight of some
still form upon the earth below. Swift
ly the birds sWOop downward, always
circling, from the height where they
had appeared like mere specks. They
settle upon the leaf1ess branches of
some dead tree. Eagerly the black
eyes scan the body they perceive from
ing is at hand to dispute their right,
they partly unfold their rusty-bla
wings and stealthily light upon their
banquet.
When these black-robed undertakers
retire, millions of ants soon swarm
upon the skeleton and clean the bones,
which, in a few days, become whitened
by the strong sunlight.
THE SNAKY TRIBE.
Persons who have always resided in
cities imagine they could not face the
many obnoxious animals that dwell in
wild places. If these same individuals
have a chance to become familiar with
such surroundings, they soon cease to
regard them with fear; partly because
experience convinces them they for
merly entertained an exaggerated idea
of the risks to be incurred. The rattle
snake, for instance. is not half as
dreadful as some people imagine; he is
in fact. gOod-natured, and he also gives
notice Of his presence. Unless cornered
or fearful of attack, the RATHER will at
tend strictly to its own affairs, partic-
ularly if in search Of a tender rabbit,
or hurrying to it's holein- the-earth-
home to tell its adventures to its boz
som friend, the armadillo. 1t is a GU
rious fact that in some instances a rat
tlesnake and an armadillo occupy the
same hole.
little viper to be dreaded is the
seatilla Qittle arrow, called by the.
Maya Indians uOlpoch (eVll-minded) be-
cause it attacks without provocation.
FuIl-groWn, this snake is about a yard
long, of one thickness throughout ana
its color is that of dry stick; unlucky
WCodgatherers have picked up this vi
per by mistake. There is no known tn
tidote to it's venom. The uolpoch
Il L 70
end, and hurls itself at it's victim few
feet distant. 1t does this as easily
from the ground as from the top Of the
cabbage palm, it's favorite abiding
place. 1t has been asserted that Vene-
nous snakes do not climb trees. How,
then, does this one get back home?
FISHES, ANTS AND WORMS.
But even with this aggressive foe an
experienced traveller might prefer to
take his chances Of escape rather than
be compelled to pass through a thicket
infested with woodticks, particularly
those of the smallest kind, mere red
specks, that, under microscope, appear
like miniature turtles The tick just
bUries its head under ones skin and
stays there to suck until completely
bloated, and for all the rest of it's life,
for the Wretched insect never gets out
alive. A few hundred ticks induce high
fever. The surest way Of executing the
! enemy is to use hot water and a brush,
or to rub the affected part with alcohol.
AS "a preventative the Indians rub
themselves with tobacco juice. 1t is
during the dry season that the tick
does his business. The pedestrian or
rider stirs a branch beneath which he
! passes, and swarms fall on him from
every twig In a little while he fran
| tically desires to scratch off his own
skin The many species of flies and
! the most epterprising mosquitoes are
/ insignificant when compared with the
! tick
The snake coiled at the foot of tree
! to enjoy its sieSta may remain upper
| ceiVed by the pedestrian, but if the lat
! ter happens to lay a hand upon the
! bark of that tree, n sharp pain may
| send a thrill through his body, from
head to foot. No indeed! the snake has
! nothing to do with this. An ant is the
! offending party; the quality of it's bite
makes up for lack of quantity, Formic
acid Is painfully effective, momentarily,
But 1t Is not the ants fault if a
| hand happens to come in its way. Ants
are particularly annoying as burglars
| that cannot be shot. Whole armies en-
ter closed boxes Of provisions in the
| dead of the night and carry off the
| food, crumb by crumb. However, the
ant does not seem half so bad when the
centipede turns up, eight inches long,
| pinkish- brown, alarmingly swift and
| evil-eyed. To feel one Of these, with it's
! hundred legs, chasing it's own tail
around your throat is not amusing-ex-
cept to the centipede. Try to whisk 1t
- Low % 01,,f oI,