St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-02-07

IS those of a small size-one, a sort
d barkless dog, probably a raccoon, and
4 long bodied squirrel. Many import,
. domestic animals, such as the hors
pig, goat, cat, the dog, and even cattl
in the course of time ran wild, and al
to be found in great numbers in IL
1 densest parts of the forests. The dog e
] pecially has been much modified by b
} new habitat, and has dwindled, on th
one hand, to the Havanese toy spanie
and developed in another direction int
the enormous Molasso which only
few years back was constantly employ
ed i'll the inhuman sport of huntin,
runaway slaves.
In periods, doubtless long antedatint
the advent of man upon the island mas
todons, elephants, appropriateness ant
other large animals roamed through thu
Cuban forests or wallowed in its la
goons. Their fossil remains are occa.
sionally dug up, after having been en-.
tombed in rocky graves for unknown
centuries of time.
A small red asp, said to have been
imported from Santo Domingo, infests
many of the sugar plantations, and its
bite is exceedingly dangerous. The
scorpions in Cuba are very undesirable
neighbors, ard though their bites have
not been known to result fatally they
are attended by rather serious conse-
quences. A large boa is also OCCASION
ally to be met with, but it is not at all
dangerous. Some members of the bat
family attain an enormous size, the
leathery wings measuring from a foot
to foot and half from tip to tip.
They are visitors occasionally to apart
ments, which they enter through the
open doors and windows. They are I'M
canny looking intruders and are regard
ed as i'll omened, though not otherwise
No account of Cuban reptiles would
be complete without some mention of
the iguana. This is large green lizard,
in it's habits, which lives on
fruits. 1t is extensively used as an ar
5icle of food and has been declared pal
atable and nutritious. The alligator
md cayman are also frequently to be
net with in the rivers and deep lagoons.
More than 200 species of indigenous
irds, exclusive Of the domesticated
ind, are known, many of them remark.
BILE for the richness of their plumage.
" migratory birds the ducks of Florida,
r del norte are the most numerous.
he indigenous huyuyo is miniature
the English duck and is of splendid
lumage.
II there are but few obnoxious rep.
lies in Cuba, the lack Of these is amply
for by surprising num-
er of disagreeable insects of various
lnds. The mosquitoes are large and
pecially venomous and obtrusive, and
here are also irritating "jiggers, ants,
'asps, midges and spiders as large as
le crown of mans hat. A member
the bee family known as the "veg-
able bee" is a most remarkable in
'ct' 1t is very much handicapped by
ature, for it has to carry an umbrella
laped fungus of the clavara tribe on
S back. The cucullo a monster FREELY,
nits bright streams Of light from two
'es on his back and one in his breast
1ree of these creatures inclosed in a
ass would give sufficient light to il
minata a moderate sized apartment.
The climate of Cuba, considering it
in the tropics, is very tolerable, and
I'm November till May is quite en-.
yable, as the heat during that period
never excessive. Unless in the upland
gions the summer season is extremely
ervating owing to the intense heat
d the unhealthy steaming miasma
used by the incessant rains. In some
rtions of the forests unwholesome
alarial vapors arise from the rank
getable strata, and the lagoons and
arshes are sometimes hidden for DAYS
a dense, deadly, white pail of fog.
But Notwithstanding these disagree
lie features it would be quite possible
enjoy good health in Cuba. Much of
g disease which prevails there is pre-
ntable and would disappear or at
asst be greatly mitigated were the in
'bltants to pay proper regard to the
WIS of health. The people of Cuba,
'aniards included, are not clearly and
EN- to regard bathtub with horror.
NEIL MACDONALD.