The birds think it is an island. They alight upon it. When the whole family is there the big beast turns suddenly. Just as the birds scramble off the alligator opens its mouth once. They are gone.
The birds are neat little feeders, and the alligator is an epicure at this time of the year. The ricebird diet makes the tip of its tail tender and sweet.
In St. Augustine is an alligator farm, one of two in the United States, the other being at the Hot Springs in Arkansas. Here the alligators are kept in confinement until large enough for market.
It will probably be news to many that Florida has a representative of the crocodile family. This animal was first supposed to be confined to the West Indies and South America, but it has been occasionally captured on the peninsula of Florida. It is easily distinguishable from the alligator by its narrow snout. For many years scientists were skeptical of reports from Florida of the appearance of this animal in that State, but the capture of several fine specimens in recent years has settled all doubt.
[VENOMOUS FISH.]
It is curious that while so much has been written in our language on snake bites there has been comparatively little placed on record concerning the stings of fishes.
Snake bites are rare in this country, but fish stings are very common, especially among fishermen and fishmongers. The fishes that most often sting are the great and little weevers. A prick on the hand or foot from a weever causes much swelling and inflammation.
If the arm is affected the inflammation may spread to the shoulder, the swelling of the whole limb being enormous. The pain is agonizing, the patient often falling into a state of collapse or becoming delirious. Usually the inflammation subsides in about three days, followed by desquamation.