The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-11-04
SWats the Chicken
Mr.. Editor, Dear Sir:

W1Su W dpPiloS > O~A 'A~U
awful plague is now attacking the
peace and security Of your fair
city. Once certain Of its exist
ence, | am now, since both the
council and the civic have recog-
nized it, in no doubt of its preva-
lence. 1t seems that species of
feathered beasts known as the
Fowlebus Chicancuss has decend-
ed upon you.
That it may be certain ! know
what | am talking about, | will
here give the following descript-
ion: This peculiar feathered ami
NAL is extraordinarily large in bo-
dy for its wing length, is feather
ed over completely save for the
lower part of its two legs, has a
pert bright eye, a comparatively
short bill, and is possessed of
nervous manner deceitfully cover
ing an inconceiveably bold and
daring nature; it continually max
es a raucous, chuckling noise at
once both attention compelling
and disquieting while, in the early
part of the day, certain experts a
mong these creatures emit far
reaching and very penetrating cry
high above all their other chuck
ling and chickering's which would
be considered more or less musi-
cal were one in the most apprecia-
tive state of mind at the time this
effort of the FoWlebus Chickan-
cuss is usually made,-four o.
clock in the morning. There is no
doubt that, for the length of their
Threats, the sound referred to is
of a wonderfully penetrating ma
ture-carrying, it has been claim
ed by reliable persons, easily for
a block, arousing every occupant
of bedroom enroute without
damage to its beautiful piercing
quality, to arrive with slight dim
of its levering power at
the last bedside in the block.
Now we come to the most i'm
portant part in this description,
the real secret of the existence for
this nefarious fowl, i. e. and name |
ly: 1t. Gays" sometimes every
day for weeks at stretch, an oval |
bony object which is considered |
by those who are able to secure
the same, as quite desirable to the
taste; this fruit of the chen" is
seen to contain, when the shell is
cracked open, round, bright vel
low globe floating in a transpar-
ent jelly which turns white and !
solid on a thorough heating. It
is claimed that this hen-fruit is the
excuse for the propagation of the
pest. The Fowlebus Chickancuss
with alarming rapidity, !
the consumption by the
owners. of the beast itself allays
he dangers of the situation some
what. The habits of the Fowle-
,us Chicanicuss are so well-known
~ your citizen sufferers that |
fesitate to wound them afresh
With recital; however | will men
los the base of them.
The creature possesses a natur-
al love Of flowers, but it is an af-
lection so demonstrative that few
lowers within reach can survive
It's operation, So it is, also, in re-
gard to vegetables. The Fowle-
ous Chicanicuss has an instinct for
coating newly planted flower
beds and gardens, it being his
greatest delight to re-cultivate
pluck, pick and scratch in the CEN
,er of a newly-sown or sprouting
garden bed or fower-mound; so
hat it is common sight to see a
tout and comely housewife rush
ng out of doors, spectacles awry,
'erhaps with one shoe off and one
n, jerking off her apron, with
which to "shoo" of the terrible
'owlebus Chicanicuss from her
narcisis, lettuce, or her
rCrrr7-o 1,-y11r.yy mr. pnoocS;+,y of