The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
THE ANIMAL LIFE OF CUBA
HEsULTS OF a rRarNEP oBsEETEEs
RESEARCH IN THE ISLAND.

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SAN LUIS, Cuba, Aug. Unlike other tropi
Cal countries OF the Western Hemisphere, Cub,
Possesses few wild animals although tho natura
conditions OF mountain, field, forest and jungl,
have certainly been favorable 10 n greater mum
her than have been known 10 exist on the island
- any time Outside Of the wild boar, small
deer and the iutia or wood rat short enumeration
would cover the list and leave little TO be told.
Anigators are plentiful, and the cayman or croco-
uile In numerous, but as TO tho rabbit, raccoon.
ppossum or fox. which afford so much sport In the
United States, these and all others OF like kind
ero unknown In CNba
. The eastern part Of the island, especially SAINT
sago province, Is rough and rugged with noun
vain peaks that disappear among the clouds In
some cases these lofty piles shoot up abruptly
tfom The coast while again the coast may be low
and parshy and the mountains far inland. There
are lovely valleys between tho ranges. and every
where dense cover Is abundant Dark forests Of
mahogany, rosewood, ebony and walnut cover
miles oil territory, and other sections consist Of
Sast savannas overgrown with tall grasses that
reach TO horseman's shoulders Tho natural
conditions arc ideal for wild game, but tho long
settlement oil tho island and the raids OF the nsur-
vents VINO have lived on The country Tor years. has
soiI niue Tor tho sportsman
ihe Wi'd ooar OIL Cuba answers In sire and fe
aorociousness 10 'ne laoah OF northern Mexico
ana sou'herh Iexas ihey run In small packs
or droves have an oyerabundanco OF courage. and
weigh from 200 TO $50 pounds In the latter re
epec' they nave 'he advantage over thelr cousins
Oh ieAas ana Mexico Iheir 'usIs arc sharp and
piominehI being several inches In length. and
vhen 'hey encounter an adversary In the brush,
nc nc man or beast there IN sure TO be fight to
sho hhlsh WIN each dfoVe OF these creatures
runs leader who Is called BY tho natives Ell Sold-
so,'o' 'houg why no shou'd De designated her
mi. no one Is ao'e 10 TELL
inc luna pronounced hoo te ah) Is the only
WIN animal IN Cupa ha' Is nauVe 10 The country.
" iouhd IN no o'her iahd ana Is SIMPLY The over
vfo"n ia' OIL inc o'aHA oranges In length from
s"eiFe hches 70 Two ieet exclusive oil the Tall, Is
NOCTURNAL ieeuel ana can DO famed almost 10 the
uegree oil 'he domesuo dog Inc 1utla Is very
common throughout CUBA inhabitlng the noun
saina. forests ana iowlands and IL general arti-
cle OIL die' In both the wild and domestic state
" ne crea'ure however, mas the repulsiVeness OF
she common ia' ana IL summed by all except the
sniahd inhaoi'ants' VINO prize IL as ono OF their
choicest ioods 10 catch the iutia. simple box
trap Is arranged with double doors and baited
Walks 10 MS oes'rucuon without so much as the
wrought oil an investigation. The younger men,
DOTS oil the species arc easily captured in hollow
trunks or rotten logs and no dogs are necessary
So ieIe' 'hem OUT Ior upon INC approach OF
stranger 70 their hiulng places 'hey crawl forth TO
eausiy 'heir curiosity ana are easily made pris
onors AMER once tasung captivity the animal
never seeks to escape
iho Nipe savannas on The northeastern coast OF
Santiago province, magnificent rolling prairies
oVersiheo with every variety OF grass indigenous
70 thc country Is now the only section where deer
may DC found IN considerable numbers Back
III tho INFERIOR among the swamps and heavy
cover, In tho forests and mountain foothills. and
"a unsettled and unfrequcnted places they are also
encountered, but they have been almost exter-
minated by the savage wild dogs, which, escaping
from CIVILIZATION have become as ferocious and
rs dangerous as tho timber wolves Of West
ern country These dogs are OF as many colors
as the domestic breeds and are low and cunning,
sheir tails being quite as long az their bodies
The woods also abound In cats run wild, driven
from their former homes by the burning of plan
Nations and settlements As these creatures are
now thrown on their own resources for living
Shey may develop into wild species similar to our
wild cats
The domestic animals let loose in the island from
WV So'AoS' pO'ipu vi its W. upd'iOu nave IOunu
place favorable for their reproduction. but while
Increasing they have also undergone modiAca-
tiona Cuban horses OF the Andalusian race
have lost In stature and breadth, but they have
gained In sobriety. endurance and vitality. BE
lore the insurrecion of 1893 they were numerous
throughout the island, and especially in the central
and western regions, that nobody travelled afoot
To-day the number OF saddle animals has greatly
diminished In proportion to the inhabitants, and
nowhere are wild horses found, az they formerly
were In Romano Cay, in the Nipe savannas and
other Isolated regions Asses are not numerous
being kept mainly Tor breeding purposes Over
worked mules are seen everywhere, and as there
are lew railroads and no other kinds OF roads TO
lspeak OIL these hardy animals are used for trans
lpor'ation over the trails and across the noun
fainh The camel OF the Canaries which was in
Sroduced at one Tine did not succeed owing To the
.niguas' species oil insect which wounded its feet
IN certain parts oil the island. especially in the
suis'nc' oil Baracoa, the OK Is used as a beast OF
burden and Tor driving. Goats and sheep have
not thrived as well In Cuba as hogs and CATTLE the
goat has lost Its virility. while the sheep. being
poorly cared ior has replaced Its fleece with coat
Foi hair. The foregoing enumeration covers about
10. I.I