Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE SOUTHERN WORLD, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882, 7 like other good things, they are rare, and not all over the land are these spots found, where health, rich soil and beautiful scenery are combined. The two latter are more easily obtained together than the former, which last is by far the most important consideration of the two. Florida possesses a topographical feature which is missing in every other State in the Union, and it is a peculiarity which tends greatly to secure the heulth of her people. This is the fact that the pine lands, which, we have seen, form the great bulk of all her lands, are studded at short intervals with these richer hammock lands. The pine lands are comparatively poor, the hammocks A Largo Lizard.. They who are accustomed to the small lizards, so common in our moderate climate, will be somewhat astonished to learn of a lizard like that depicted in the engraving, which grows to a length of live feet. And there are other species which attain alengtb of even six feet. It is only in hot climates that the lizards, in common with all other reptiles, can grow to such great size; for being cold in themselves, they need the greatest possible heat to enable them to de velop to perfection. No matter what its size may be, however, the lizard is always inoffensive and usually very timid. The Teju or Monitor Lizard, which is so well pictured in the engraving, will, when driven delights to make its home under the great roots of the massive trees, so plentiful in the rich lands of South America. It is really a land animal, but nevertheless is a swift swimmer, and can remain under water a surprising long time. An Inexperienced person might, upon see ing it for the first time, mistake it for a species of alligator. This mistake might be the more easily made were it first seen, as in the engraving, emerging from the water. A very superficial comparison of it with the alligator will be sufficient, however, to show a marked difference between the two. Its head is small in fact, and absolutely tiny in comparison with that of the alligator, which is of hideously great size. The alligator is their eggs in a warm spot, where the beat from the sun, supplemented by the heat produced by decomposing leaves, will hatch out their young. The Teju make it his bus iness to find these spots, and feast upon the eggs deposited there. It is a generally accepted story that the Teju is such a determined enemy of the al ligator that it will always warn human be ings of the approach of one of these rapa cious monsters. The same story is told of a similar lizard on the banks of the Nile, and consequently the name of monitory lizard has been given this species. The story is no more than a fable, for many recent travelers have borne witness that on frequent occa sions when such warning would have been A LARGE LIZARD. rich; the pine lands are healthy, the ham mocks the reverse. Now, as the naughty, slangy boys say—“what is a fellow to do ?” The question is easily settled; get some hammock land, if you want it, and cultivate your trees there, then get a few acres of pine land a mile or two away, and cultivate your family there. This plan disposes of the trouble for those who are not satisfied to 8tart their groves on pine land; no doubt the trees will grow faster for the first few years without fertilizers, but by and by- well, we shall have more to say about that in our next paper. True treasure often costs toil and tears. to a defense, make good use of the weapons furnished it by nature. The mouth, al though not large, is garnished with strong, sharp teeth, which have been known to pierce both boot and foot of a too bold hunter who had pressed a retreating Teju too hard. Its tail, too, is a most effective weapon, as the broken ribs of many an inex perienced dog will testify. It will not be the first to give offense, however, and much prefers escaping quietly, when possible. Unfortuately for it, the flesh of the Teju is, like that of the iguana, another large lizard, considered a dainty by the natives of Brazil, where the Te)u is most common. It lives in cavities in the ground, and particularly tovered with hard and almost impenetrable scales, while the skin of the Teju is almost tender. The alligator, too, is almost sombre in color, while the Teju is beautifully marked. It is of adeep black color, relieved by bright yellow bands aud spots. It is most graceful in its movements, and in general appearance is far removed from the terrible ugliness of the alligator. Its teeth, like those of the alligator, are continually re newed. It feeds on rats, mice, birds, and all such small creatures as come in its way. It is also exceedingly fond of eggs, and conse quently is a most formidable enemy to the race of alligators. These latter reptiles lay most useful, it has been entirely wanting, and this, too, when the Teju has been known to be in the vicinity. The Boston Pilot says: “An Italian chem ist has invented a process for solidifying wine, and a French chemist has found a means of crystallzing brandy, making it like a gum and readily dissolved. No more timid public speakers now. Modesty and diffidence can stow away as many lozenges in their vest pockets as will loosen the moat retiring tongue. Hope never dies. Of course the under taker has no interest in hope.