The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-08-31


Have each value in its way
This, for the skill with which It's wrought,
That for the pathos of is thought
g-,Et-Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
REPTILESIN THE ZOO"
The Manner in Which They We're Re-
moved to a New House.
From the London Telegraph.
One of the most important ev ents in
the annals of the Zoolo. zeal Garden was
the transfer which took p lace recently
Of the reptiles and snakes fIom the vari-
GUS departments in which they have
been hitherto stationed to the new rep
tile house, commenced about a year
ago, and of which we have already given
full description. AS now completed,
it is undoubtedly the finest of the kind
in the world, and nowhere can the rep
tiles be seen to 80 great an advantage
Indeed, We may say that their appear
ance under the advantageous circum-
stances now provided for them is we'll
calculated to turn the scale of admira-
ton in their favor, and one may be we'll
satisfied, after all, with the sale of the
great elephant, when the funds thus
realized have been turned t. snch good
account. In transferring animals of the
lower class of mammals, some degree
ofintelligence, and more especially Of
affection for their keepers, renders con-
troll to large extent possible, and little
or no danger is incurred; but with rep
tiles the case is totally different. They
become alarmed by the unusual treat
ment, and no one can handle q yeno-
nous snake with impunity. nor can any
one be always sufficiently active in his
movements to insure escape from fatal
attack. Snakes, especially the veno.
nous ones, have powers of quick action,
and >an make sudden and long springs;
and the non-poisonous kinds, such as
bows snd pythons, can coil with the
most powerful grasp, round the bodies
ofmen and animals. Crocodiles and al
ligators have strong jaws, which may
easily amputate limb: and even tur-
ties can snap with savageness which
no one would voluntarily incur. The
tasks of transferepce commenced yes.
terday at little before II in the morn
ing, and was completed in the after
noon without hitch Of any kind. The
creates. credit is due to the preconcep-
ton of the means and modes by Mr..
Bartlett, and to the carrying out of his
instructions by his son and By the keep
ers, Thompson and Tyrell. DR.. Sclater,
the secretary of the society, was also
present during the whole Of the time,
ana took great interest
and an active part in the proceedings.
The first moved were the small alliga-
tors and crocodiles, which were placed
IN the western oval pond, and seemed
The pond is an open one, without rail-
ings of any kind, but the amphibious
reptiles are prevented from escaping by
by the overhung of the rim of the basin.
The first snake removed was the very
poisonous hamadryad, (Ophioplagas
bungaras) a native of India, and an in
mate of the Gardens since 1875. This
snake can dart to height of FIVE or six
feet, and its transference was prudently
effected by getting it into box, which,
when placed in the new abode, was
opened by a sort of trap door, and the
snake hooked out by long iron wire
forked at the end. The cages are so
constructed that by means of iron slid
ing doors they can be opened at the rear
and access for the snakes can be made
also to the adjoining cages. The whole
fronts Of the cages are of plate glass, in
single sheets. BY opening the inferno.
diate doors the inmates of the cage can
be driven into the next cage; and the
attendant, entering from behind, can
then cleanse the compartment and clean
the glass front if required. After this the
reptiles can be got back again. The rear
door is on the back ofthe hind wall of the
cage, and consequently in front of it
there ls ledge the thickness of the
wall. During the morning the hama.
dryad sprang on to this ledge, which lie
eighteen inches wide, and effected
Judgement on it by pressing its BODY
into an almost rectangular shape, in
which remarkable position it continued
to move on the ledge until its head
reached the ground, and then it COM
pleted lts performances until the ex-
tremity OF it's tail had passed the ledge,
when the residue of its body fell away.
10 extricate the large pythons from
their old haDitations, Of which they had
peen inmates for many years, the fronts
OF the old cages had to be taken out al
together, and in doing this on the pre-
vlous DAY enc OF the reticulated pythons
managed to escape. 1t was found, how
ever, yesterday morning, under the hot
water pipes, and was safely captured in
a.canvas bag. This proved happy in
cident, and the creature was conveyed
10 the new house with ease and liberated
with facility into its noble quarters
ms is one of the largest, and its COM
panlon ls the largest snake in the me-
nagerie., It is fine reptile, over fifteen
H. 1eet IN length, and remarkably active.
Thompson and Tyrrell carried the bag
into the cage, untying it, shot the great
creature out, and then retired bv the
rear door. Left to itself it
\, rapidly forward, touching with
lts 6lfurcated tongue the glass front, the
walls, everything 1t went along It then
mounted one Of the two oak trees, and
wound and twisted itself over every
branch, resting it's head every now and
again upon one or other of them for a
lew seconds and then moving on afresh.
afterwards its huge companion was SIM
llarly brought into the cage and shot out
OF its sack, when it commenced to move
along the ,graveled floor, its CLASSY skin
and its reticu!ated markings being shown
Oft to the greatest advantage as the sun
shone down through the skylight of the
roof upon it, bringing out purple
sheen and golden CLINT truly marvel
GUS as it slowly drew one fold over an
other Of its massive body; The cage in
which these two fine snakes are placed
is larger than the other cages, which are
usually about twelve feet long. This
really consists of two compartments,
and is rs feet from end to end. The
snake was known to be of immense size,
but as in the old small den it commonly
lay coiled up in blanket and was never
seen fully extended, every one was as.
tonished to find it stretch itself out to
the full extent of its new habitation and