New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
Porto KICAN FAUNA.
WILD ANIMALS ARE RATHER SCARCE IN
THE ISLAND.
ruu NEED or GAME LAws-ONIy TWO SPECIES
OF SNAKES RUNNING BIRDS ARE
NUMEROUS

OF SNAKES RUNNING BIRDS ARE
NUMEROUS
CORRESPONDENCE Of The Providence Journal.
1t is somewhat disappointing. to say the least.
to find our only really tropical island In ad-
jacent American waters lacking IN pros ana
mammals suitable for hunting. That Is. IL 10
disappointing to the sportsman; though, by the
same token we find very few reptiles or large
animals inimical to human well-beng. The sood
St. Patrick might have swept the island clean OF
snakes almost far as serpents go. tor. ex-
cepting the rarely seen boa and few adders.
there Is no species to be found the boa. oy
the way. is rather beneficial than harnful. as IL
clears the plantations of rats. which. according
10 the statement Of q Spanish author WOulu
totally destroy all the plants and SEEDS were IL
not for the ''Culebras cazadoras. or huntihs
snakes
These serpents says the author Of "Espana.
SUI NaturaIcza Historic" are. on the average
from two to three yards In length. ana nave
their burrows dens in the steep banks Oh
rivers or near the fields and meadows. but al
ways In the vicinity Of huts or houses. during
the daytime they remain Invisible In ther oehs.
hut at night sally forth in search OF their prey
and II Is one OF the sights of Porto Rico to wit
ness their chase and capture OF rats ana mice.
They enter the house and range through the
rooms as well as over the roof. pursuing tneir
soueaking quarry. which. when seized. Is borne
away the snake with head in air. gliding easily
along despite the struggles Of the rodent
DESTRUCTIVE INSECT.
a
-conejcn,' the wood louise. or wood ant. which
bores into timber and furniture and rapidly re-
duces it to powder the ants nav. nave , p,T'e 81
vcrtabe scourges to the island In times past; at
one time causing the abandonment or the Hrs.
settlement Caparra: at the same time they nave
their uses. They march in long columns, SOME
times nearly a mile In length. the largest and
fercest ants at the head. invading all houses IN
their way, but devouring all the rats centlpeaes
scorpions tarantulas and other pests or tne
household. leaving behind them hardly nox-
ious thing Of any Kind
Then there are the 'nguas." the chigoes or
tiggers. which burrow beneath the skin or the
toes and create restoring sores uhieSS 0oioiu''
guarded against. ...
The most attractive insects are the "cucujos
or "6relies" the smallest species known as
"Iucernas" or giowworms the largest as "cucu-
banos" and which have side lights like coach-
mans lamps. 1t Is already well known that
these noctilucse are utilized by thr women Vi
Cuba and Porto Rico brillants by being en-.
Gagged or enmeshed in lace or muslin and pinned
about their dresses. where they lash ana gieam
like the diamonds OF finest water. 1t Is an easy
matter TO read ordinary print by the light of
one OF these frenes II it be held near the
paper or book and by catching ana coniin'h a
few of them in TASKS or Viais room may De
ilumned with a soft and agreeable light.
To digress a moment The terrene territory OF
the island is not 80 abundantly supplied win
Interesting denizens the aqueous element sur
rounding it Fish Of every species known 10
tropic waters and of every hue shape ana guam
ty disport themselves in the bays and channels
between the islands and mouths OF rivers In the
streams there few species, but as the rivers
are comparatively short-lived they cannot sup
port large numerous ftnny inhabitants Here
are the names OF few Of the sea jewellers. as
given by the author just quoted Lisa. sabalo
(shad); pango. roba!o (pream); curvineta sar-
dina anchoa (sardine and anchovy) jurela. tor
tuga tsea turtle) murenas (ees). sharks.in
abundance-sword and saw fishes. and finally.
whales and manatees. which II they are not
scientifically cassed fish. are to be found In
the water and may be hunted from boats.
BIRDS ARE SCARCE.
Notwithstanding the fact that the island
abounds in thckets and forest hooks. cleared
lands and beauteous Valleys yet the birds are
relatively scarcer than the insects and reptiles.
This is to be deplOred OF course but 1t may
be possible to correct this deficiency by beneficial
legislation: and one OF the first needs of the ISL
and is strong repressive laws against the ndis-
crmnate shooting OF the game and smaller
birds. In the popular mind it is the pot hunter
and the feather fend who extermnate the small
birds and deprive Us Of their songs and Animal
ed presence. But what we have most to fear
Is the so-called scientist and Ornithologist. who
will now invade what has hitherto been a for
hidden territory. and promptly clean out the
interest Of science but. just the same. the
birds will be extermina ted. in order that few
museums and private collections may be en-
riched. 1t is to be hoped that so long as the ISL
and is under military rule this invasion will be
prevented and that each and everv ornithslogi-
cal pot hunter will be arrested and treated TO a
dose of his own medicine
Now. as has been minated Porto Rico has
been but little explored OrnithOlogically and
Hot 81 lHuCH Is kHoWH Vi us 1edtneTeu IN
habitants Of its unfeathered bpeds. There
are few native game birds. those most in
request being 'ganas" and "guineas." or do
mestic barnyari and guinea fowl run wild. A
turkey now and then escapes to the forest and
then becomes "pavo del monte" Over in
Yucatan the "paVo del monte" is distinct
species OF turkey. peculiar to that peninsula
the "meleagrs ocellatus." but in Cuba and
Porto Rico it is merely the domestic species run
wild at 'nlaron' as the Spanards say.
There great possibilities in these guinea
birds and halfwild turkeys If properly set free
and projected for a term OF years. there is
bird living that surpass the former in acute
ness and gtmy qualities. while the latter needs
cOu,norT,ticn