Evening star., 1939-05-14
Strange Animals Live
in Surinum WiIds
BIZ Frederic J. HaSktn.

u,
which each year gives a prize to the
man who tells the most majestic false
hood about some wonder of natural or
even supernatural life or experience
Some tall tales have been produced by
Americans. but the palm must pass to
naturalists returning from the Surinam
region of Guiana on the north coast OF
South America. The difficulty here,
however, is that these naturalists may
be disqualified because it can be proved
that they are not lying about the Won
derS they have seen but telling the truth
But their tales seem properly to fit into
the category of mendacity
This Guiana country, which includes
parts of British, Dutch and French
Guiana may be regarded as the least
explored portion of the world save for
some polar regions. Only recently have
expeditions successfully penetrated the
wilds. Taking Surinam, or Dutch Gui-
ana alone, it is said that less than one
flftleth of the area is cleared of forest.
only twothirds is inhabited even by
aboriginal tribes while half the country
never has been explored by white men
Such penetration as has been achieved
has resulted in the discovery that no
place in the world has so many different
kinds cf strange, incredible creatures. 1t
is veritable crossword puzzle ZOO and
also reserve, because there are hundreds
of species of various genera which never
have even been given names. Names
will have to be found for them and right
now the situation should be canvassed
to determine whether long or short words
are most needed by crossword puzzle
constructors
The naturalists who have at last pene-
trated these wilds bring back enough
stories to bring the blush to the ordinary
Journeyman nature faker.
rake. for example, the Surinam night
jar This is nocturnal bird which has
eyes an inch in diameter and a mouth
SIX inches across When caught OF
threatened with capture it begins tc
groWl like dog and when really thor
oughiy agitated barks. Then there is
the hoatzin. This is a bird. but one 50
lazy that its habits soon deprive It Of
ability to fly. When young it climbs tree
by virtue of claws which protrude from
the top OF its wing bones. While IT has
pIumage at first, it is too lazy to fly, but
runs through the underground. This
soon wears the feathers from the wings
to such an extent that the creature is
unable to fly at all
II the reader does not believe this one
he may go to Surinam and see for him
sell, bur the demonstrable fact is that
there one may find traffic light beetles
IN vast numbers. These insects DOS
SeSS a lighting system different from
anything else in the natural world
Each has two lights on the upper side Of
the tflorax. When they wish to exhibit
a caution sign, these lights turn the
usual amber caution color and when the,
are ready to go they turn on the greer
light. They have no red lights. but the,
90 have DINNERS which may be operatec
over amber or green lights at will.
cloud Of these traffic light beetles. eithe.
IN fight or on bushes and trees, cal
light up an entire area
Among the mammals special atten-
ton should be accorded the monkeyS
known as red hoWlers These are small
creatures, but equipped with an extraor-
binary capacity for sound. They live IN
large groups in the trees and at regular
periods, approximately every two and a
half hours, whole troop will howl.
This is no meager sound, but is de-
scribed as comparable to the shaking
roar emitted by whole tribe of lions
The bowling will last 10 minutes and
reverberates over forest and plain with
chilling frightfulness. These creatures
move at great speed, but stop when the
bowling period comes
There are many other types Of mon
keys. some large, some small and. in
spite of the tropical climate. all furred
curious fact is that the black spider
monkeys and the squirrel monkeys. al
though of entirely different species. al
ways live together. They eat different
foods and yet always a troop of one spe-
cies will be found in the company of
troop of the other
There are vampire bats which will at
tack human being asleep and small
creatures at any time great variety of
carnlVore mammals is found in Surinam.
There are jaguars. ocelots. the crab-eat
Ing fox, the kinkajou, skunk. otter, coat
and many others. There is the extreme
ly rare bush dog This creature has
long body and short legs, like a dachs-
hund and lives in deep holes on the
savannahs It is very savage.
The tree porcupine can quickly gnav
a large hole through a plank, but lacks
the sense to extract quills from its own
tender feet with the result that they
tester. The capybara is declared BY
the naturalists to be the largest rodent
In the world. 1t reaches a size larger
than a prize hog Although it's four
front teeth are so powerful that II
can readily chew up corrugated iron, it
is the gentlest of the wild creatures of
Surlnam. On the contrary, the peccary.
very much smaller in comparison is so
savage as to be distinctly dangerous to
man. Peccaries hunt in large droves
and 1t behooves one to get out of their
way.
The three-toed sloth frequents this
part of the world It moves among the
branches. always upside down, uttering
rather plaintive squeaks and lives on
paw-paw leaves. 1t is a contortionist
in that it can swivel its head completely
around with ease.
To Nv Aotha,