Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-01-21
THE SCAVENGERS Of CUBA
They Are Useful in Many
Ways, But Make Unpleas-
ant Companions.
THE HIDEOUS BUZZARD.
In Some Communities II Is Unlaw
ful 10 Kill This Malodor-
ouS Bird.

Harmless ~ Not Disturbed-Iand Grabs
Are onsi,l.rcd "a D-iicacy-The Curious
Little >p der Crab.
dur soldiers in Cuba have no adj
mira'i ion for the big land crabs. AMI
certainly those creeping creatures ar"
not attractive. They are. however.
useful allies of the buZZards. repul-
sive scavrngrrs that consume decaying
bodies which would otherwise produce
dire pcStilencc There is considerable
difference between these two scaven.
gers. The buzzard is an absolute crav.
en-. fearful even of lis own ugly shadL
ow. ana touches nothing that is not
alyeady decaying: while the crab. when
ravenous. seeks prey. devouriug live
kittens and other helpless small things
Al Belize British Iiord;lrous there is
an annual swarm of small land crabs:
the negroes then catch ns many as pos
sihle and keep them in barrels, salied.
fol future consumption. 'rhc hc:imit
crab. common in those lands is oh
jectionaalc for other reasons it's pala-
table flesh often proves poisonous 10
the misguided ones who enjoy it, The
hermit monopollzes any empty shell
of convenient shape and uses il rs n
movable cell. until his growth con'pcls
him to seek u larger one. II is odd 10
see periwinklc shell, several inches
In diameter. Stecrod over the ground
by one projecting crab claw which.
kept busy out of doors. grows much
bigger than the other. sheltered and
il.ariiVe.
In hot countries. where thorough
sanitary measures are not taken. land
crabs and huLZarsls serve Il great pur-
pose. aIi this is 50 well rccogrlZetl
that in some communities Il is unlaw-
ful 10 kin Il rarrion bird a .iuc being
imposed for the oifcnse. Ugly malod-
orous and timid. this creature can
arouse only disgust and pits p.cid-
edly distance lends enchantnIent" -
the buZZard's appearance. for when
soaring on high its circlng flight is
admirably graceful But company
of these scavcngcrS catches sight Of
some still form upon the earth below.
Swiftly the birds swoop downward
always circling. from the height where
they had appeared like mere sprcks
They settle upon the lcafless branches
of some dead tree Eagerly the black
eyes sean the body they perceived from
afar. and. having rlade sure that moth
ing is NJ hand To disturb their right.
they partly unfold their rusty black
wings and Stcalthily light upon their
banquet
When these black-robed undertakers
retire millions of ants soon swarm up-
on the skeleton and clean the bones.
which. In Il e " dl"S. become whitened
by the strong sunlight.
The scorpion is not half as bad as
his reputation. especially the mother
scorpion. the unfortunate being. doomed
by nature 10 be drvourcd by her own
progeny. II is rare. indeed. for any
one To die Of scorpion sting though
the venom induces temporary paralysis
of the tongue and some fever. Natives
Of Honduras assert that indigo is Il
good antidotc. hut ammonia is the best
remedy for poisonous virus. generally
As long as the scorpion is treated with
due respect IL will reciprocate: other
wise there is a fair probability that
the neat little dart at the end of it's in
ter, sting hut woefvl tail will bethrust
into the aggressor'S skin. injecting
thousandih part of Il drop no more
of the virulent white liquid stored in
a gland nj the base of the sting.
The great hairy iarantula is com
morly dreaded. though not aggressive;
in fact. some persons declare that il
does not bite. but il should be particul-
arly avoided ON account of it's hair.
fine hristlcs. which. If they enter the
pores of the skin. make exceedingly
bad sores In places these black hair
ed spiders. whose bodies measure two
inches in diameter. are so numerous
that occasionfy whole armies of them
can h" seen changing their quarters.
In such districts il is always advisable
To shake each garment before donning
IL: also To give boots aud shoes a good
rapping on their upturned soles. in
order that scorpions and others of the
spider family may have fair chance
To vacate the promises. This polite
attention may prevent an unpleasant
encounter
As the crab was first considered. the
crab spider may close the subject I'M
der consideration. This curious little
being is too interesting 10 be left out.
and sufficiently dangerous to guard
against; since one is enough to close
tile career Of the finest race horse.
When full grown the am is about the
size of a dime: in shape il is like "A
clawlcsS crab. and it's color is bright
yellow. with brown spots. This pretty
little body is exceedingly vrnomous.
not that il bites. but because il poiSons
the man or beast that has the misfor-
itE" 1" swallow il in wafer. or in fod-
der. among which insects are apt 10
iumhl,. One am sufliccs To cause the
death of horse or mule. II is asserted
hat - human being poisoned by III"
same man = continues In eNciaim Am.
ana am Up to the hour of death: for
Which r..Snn the Maya IndianS name
III" Spidtr thus. No hg spider has
such an appetite as this small one: II
consumes an astonishing number of
iiieS. I'll" am lives on trees. and Meth
irg can be more Interesting than to
watch IL rapidly spinning it's great
web ipon the approach of storm
u quickly draws all fiber back into it's
ttody. and until fair weather again pre-
walls remains mofionlcSs beneath n
leaf or in any convenicnt nook.