Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07

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AL WS@ESX' H. though, by the same
M\NW&NI i token We find very
NJ few reptiles or FARCE
animals inimical to
human well-being. The good St Patrick
might have swept the island clean of
snakes. almost, so far as serpents go for
excepting the rarely seen boa. and a few
adders. there are no species to be found
The boa, by the way. is rather beneficial
than harmful. it clears the plantations
of rats, which. according to the statement
of Spanish author would totally destroy
all the plants and seeds, were it not for
the "Culebras cazadoras," or hunting
snakes.
These serpents. says the author Of "Es-
pana. su Naturaleza e Historic" are on
the average from two to three yards in
length and have their burrows or dcns I'm
the steep banks OF rivers or near the
fields and meadows. but always in the vi
cinity of huts or houses. During the day
time they remain invisible in their dens
but at night sally forth in search Of their
prey; and ii is one OF the sights of Porto
RICO TO witness their chase and capture of
ats and mice. They enter the house and
range through the rooms as well as over
the roof, pursuing their squeakng quarry.
which, when seized. is borne away. the
snake. with head in air, gliding easily along
despite the struggles OF the rodent.
Ants by the Million.
A most destructive insect is that called
the 'comejen.' the wood iousa, or wood
ant, which bores into timber and furniture
and rapidly reduces it to powder The
ants have proved veritable scourges TO the
island, in times past. at one time causing
the abandonment of the first settlement.
of h
uses They march in long columns, some
times nearly a mile in length. the largest
and ffercest ants at the head, invading all
houses in their way, but devouring ali the
rats, cenupedes, scorpions, tarantulas and
other pests of the household. !aaving be-
hind them hardly a noxious thing of any
kind.
Then there are the "niguas," the chigoes
or jlggers, which burrow beneath the skin
of the toes and create fostering sores un-
less carefully guarded against
The most attractive insects are the ECU
cuJos'. or ''firetiies," the smallest species
Known as ''lucernaS' or glow worms The
largest as ''cucuhanos." and which have
side lights like a c0achman's lanps l. IS
already well known that these noctiucaa
are utilized by the ladies of Cuba and Porto
hic0 as brlilIants, by being ENGAGED or en-
meshed in lace or muslin and pinned about
their dresses, where they flash and CLEAN
Ike the diamonds of finest water II is an
easy matter to read ordinary print by tho
iISiil VI one OF these ire flies If he
held near the paper or book. and by catch
ing and combining a few of them in TASKS
or phlalS a room may be ilumined with q
soft and agreeable light.
Teeming With Fish.
10 digress moment: The terrene ter
rttory Of the island is not so abundaptIv
supplied with Interesting denizens as the
aqueous element surrounding it. Fish OF
every species known to tropic waters and
Of every hue, shape and quality. dfsnort
themselves in the bays. channels hatUraap
the islands and mouths of rivers. In Tho
streams there are a few species blIt az
their rivers are comrlara tiyely short lid
they cannot support large or numerous fin
ny inhabitants. Here are the names Of n
lew OF the sea jewellers. as given by the
author just quoted: Lisa. sahalo fshad
pahgo, fobaio tpream). curvineta. SARDINIA,
anchoa tSardine and anchovyD. ilreIa for.
tuSa tSea turue), murenaS feeiS> sharkS-fn
abundance-swOrd and saw fishes and
nhAIiy, whales and manatees. which. II
lhey are not scientifically classed as fish.
are 10 be found in the water and may be
hunted from boats
Notwithstanding the fact that the island
apounds In thickets and forest hooks clear
ed lands and beauteous valleys vet the
plruS are relatively scarcer than the in
scots and reptiles
This is TO be deplored. of course. but n
may be possible to correct this deficiency
no
hrst needs Of the island is strong renrassi,te
laws against the indiscriminate shoot;np
or the game and smaller birds In the non,
ular mind II Is the pot hunter and the
leather mend who eNterminatas the small
birds and dreprives US of their SONGS o,,d
animated presence. But what we have
most TO fear is the so-called scientist and
ornlthologist, who will now invade what
mas been hitherto a forbidden territory. and
promptly clean out the few birds remaining
there He will do it in the interests If
science, but, just the same the birds viii
De exterminated. in order that a few muse
utttS qua private collections may be en-
riched. 1t is to be hoped that so long as
the Island Is under military rule this in
Vasion will be prevented and thai each
and every pathological pot hunter will he
arrested and treated to a dose of his own
medicine. WI
Guinea Fowls and Turkeys
Now. as has been intimated. Porto Rico
mas Deen but little explored, ornithologf-
cally, and not SO much is known of its
leathered inhabitants as of its unfeathered
bipeds. There are few native game birds
those most in request being ''galljnas', and
gulneas,' or domestic BARNARD and p11inaa
FOWL run wild. turkey now and thcn
escapes to the forest and then becomes a
paVo del monte" Over in Yucatan the
.I pdHo uel monte Is distinct species OF
turkey peculiar to that peninsula. the "me
ieasrls oceiiatus," but in Cuba and Porto
Rico it is merely the domestic species run
wild at "maron," the Spaniards say
There are great possibilities in these gui-
nea birds and half-wild turkeys If property
set free and protected for a term of wears
as there is no bird living that can surpass
the former fE acuteness and gamey ouaIi-
ties, while the latter needs no commenda-
ton.
There are several species of pigeons and
wood doves including the great pigeon
known in the French islands as the ''ra-
mter, and the white-headed pigeon that
at times is very abundant The former is
found in the high woods" where ii pre-
fers the tree tops and feeds on large seeds
and spicy nuts; the latter is more of a
migrant than the rainier, and inhabits the
coast region, particularly the sea crane
thickets. Both are excellent eating and
in the season may be shot In great num-
bers. Four species of pigeon are so far
given as found here by naturahsts besides
which are two species of mountain doves
called sometimes partrdges. from their
robust habit and manner of feeding and
flying. The ordinary turtle dove is here
also, as well as the pretty little ground
dove; their habitat being all over the is
land.
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