The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-02
SOME THINGS NOTED IN CUBA.
Relating to Plants, Beasts, Birds
and Insects,


and Insects.
Rev. DR.. Jacob Straub in Universal
list Leader.
One is said not to be able to sneak
with authority of a country until he
has summered and wintered in it.
have now been over twelve minths IN
the island of Cuba, mainly among the
American colonists. During these
twelve months have learned and un-
learned some things. l find Cuba to
be of our common world, with many
things in common with other parts
with which have been familiar. While
there is large disSimilarity in nature
in the two places, the dissimilarities
are more notifications than radical
unlikenesses. There possibly are oak
trees, beech and maple and walnut on
the island, but none in this region.
Indeed, at first, one would say there
are no trees of the North represented
here, but there is the counterpart of
the cherry, linden and butternut. Usu-
ally the woods are much harder and
filled with oil. l should have said that
in the extreme east and west ends,
and the Isle of Pines, there are very
fine specimens of pine reported. New
ertheless, these forests are full Of
strange interest to botanists, both lay
and professional. Great orchids, rare
and otherwise, abound. A stroll
through the forest at this time of year
reveals everywhere the crumpled form
of the night blooming cereus that was
open on the night before. Pushing
through the vines of all kinds, by
means of the machete, one becomes
startled to have his path crossed by
the great pea-green vine, bearing the
vanilla of commerce. In the same VI
entity may stand the wild fig tree or
bush of coffee. or the wild orange
with yellow lines scattered on the
ground or the guava, or sapadillo or
aguacote pear, or what not of the ma
tive luscious fruits, to be followed IN
due time by the cultivated varieties.
The animal kingdom does not vary
so much from that at the North. Inc
Bob White we hear early in the morn
ing near the house. Occasionally, TOO
we hear the shirD of the robin.
think the whole family of woodpeckers
of the North I have seen represented
here, including several varieties OF
thrush One large brown bird resem-
bling a thrust but with longer tall
and somewhat different note, is con-
Stantly met with in the woods; anu
along the water are the fiamingo nm
ing up like soldiers in front OF the
L
red clouds to settle down on the oth-
err side, out of sight and range. Pell-
cans also abound in the harbors, es-
pecially where the sardines are plenty.
And their department in procuring
them is very interesting. With heavy
f1ops they rise up at an angle OF 10
degrees till they attain the hight OF
perhaps so feet, then 'let go of them
selves and tumble like dead into the
water The egert, and other birds Oh
similar plumage, are quite plentltul.
The insect world is entirely too mucR
in evidence at times; but very rev Oh
these are of a disturbing nature. ne
undesirable are no more prevalent
than at the North. Perhaps the most
interesting is the noted ''firefiy. IL -
related to what at the North we can
the swapping bug. a beetle of the cole
optera family. 1t does not wink as
do our firefiies at the North, but Whel-
ever awake CLOVIS with a steady raul-
ance like a blue electric light. Inc
light is emitted from disks on the
thorax from an eighth to a quarter ol
an inch in diameter. The body OF w
animal is from perhaps three-quarteII,s,
to IL inches long; and soaring throusn
the air they look like slowly-moEIne
Yneteors They are entirely harmless,
and children gather them in fruit JaIs
or large bottles for lanterns. BY lis
light of one only the time may be red rI
off the dial of a watch. The reptHeo
are not extensive represented. lheIe
are few snakes. all harmless. AloHs
the rivers the alligator is found. Ihtle
are some lizards in the forest, ana ln9
beautiful chameleon darts about eNeIs
where, the foe of insect life. They wv
are great playthtngs for chilaFs@