Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-22
Reptiles in the "ZoO."

AEe pefcuoS cueAP aG 1ast
 Reptiles in the "ZoO."
 Tine Manner 1n Which They Were Re-
 moved to @ New House.
 From the london Telegraph
 One of the most important events in the annals of the Geological Gardens was the transfer which took place yesterday of the reptiles and snakes from the various depart. ments in which they have been hitherto sta toned to the new reptile house, commenced about year ago, and of which we have al- ready given full description. As now com pleted, it is undoubtedly the finest of the kind in the world, and nowhere can the rep tiles be seen to so great advantage. Indeed, we may say that their appearance under the advantageous circumstances now provided for them is well calculated to turn the scale of admiration in their favor, and one may be well satisfied, after all, with the sale of the great elephant, when the funds thus realized have been turned to such good account. In transferring animals of the higher classes, and even of the lower class of mammals, some degree of intelligence, and more es- pecially of affection for their keepers, rem ders control to a large extent possible, and little or no danger is incurred; but with rep tiles the case is totally different. They be- come alarmed by the unusual treatment, and no one Cau d NCAOAAouo SAAAO ~AIA impunity nor can anyone be always suff- ciently active in his movements to insure es cape from fatal attack. Snakes, especially the vsnomous ones, have powers of quick action, and can make sudden and long springs; and the non poisonous kinds, such as the boas and pythons, can coil with most powerful grasp round the bodies of men and animals Jroeediies and alligstors have strong jaws, which may easily amputate lirab and even turtles can snap with saw ageness which no one would voluntarily in- cur. The task of transferrence commenced yesterday at little before eleven in the morning, and was completed in the afternoon without hitch of any kind. The greatest credit is due to the preconception of the means and modes by Mir. Bartlett, and to the carving out of his instructions by his son and by the keepers, Thompson and Tyrrell. Dr. Sclater, the secretary of the society, was also present during the whole of the time, and took great interest and an active part in the proceedings. The first moved were the small alligators and crocodiles, which were placed in the western oval pond, and seemed to enjoy their new residence immensely. The pond is an open one, without railings of any kind, but the amphibious reptiles are prevented from escaping by the overhaug of the rim of the basin.
 The first snake removed was the very poi sonous hamadryad, (Ophdop1tdgGs 6ualgG7fs) 8 native of India, and an inmate of the Gar dens since 1875. This snake can dart to 8 height of five or six feet, and it's transferfence was prudently effected by getting it into box, which, when placed in the new abode, was opened by 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 sliding 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 of ,.1a rJa iy1e sir n11a Gha RU 1ao intermediate 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 of the hind wall of the cage, and consequently in front of it there is ledge the thickness of the wall. During the morn ing the hamadryad sprang on to this ledge, which is about five feet from the floor and about eighteen inches wide, and effected 8 Iodgment on it by pressing it's body into an almost rectangular shape, in which remarka- ble position it continued to move on the ledge until it's head reached the ground, and then it completed it's performance until the extremity of it's tail had passed the ledge, when the residue of it's body fell away.
 To extricate the large python5 from their old habitations, of which they had been in mates for many years the fronts of the old
 
 doing this on the previous day one of the reticulated pythons managed to escape, It was found, however, yesterday morning, un- der the hot water pipes, and was safely cap- tured in a canvas bag. This proved happy incident, and the creature was conveyed to the new house with ease and liberated with facility into it's noble quarters. This is one of the largest, and it's companion is the lar gest snake in the nlenagerie. It IS fine rep tile, over fifteen feet in length, and remarka- bly, active. Thompson and Tyrrell carried the bag into the cage, and. untying it, shot the great creature out, and then retired by the rear door. Left to itself it moved rapid ly forward, touching with it's bifurcated tongue the glass front, the walls, everything as it went along It then mounted one of the two oak trees and wound and twisted it. self over every branch, resting it's head every now and again upon one or other of them for few seconds and then moving on afresh. brought into the cage and shot out of it's sack, when it commenced to move along the graVeled floor, it's glassy skin and it's reticula- ted markings being shown of to the greatest advantage as the sun shone down through the skylight of the. roof upon it. bringing out purple sheen and golden glint truly marvellous as it slowly drew one fold over an other of it's massive body. The cage in which these two fine snakes are placed is larger than the other cages, which are usual. ly twelve feet long. This really consists of two compartments, and is twenty-five feet from end to end. The snake was known to be of immense size, but as in the old small den it.commonly lay ooiled up in 8 blanket and was never. seen fully extended, every one was astonished to find it stretch itself out to the full extent of it's new habitation and still leave some portion of it's tail to come round. It is not an exaggeration, therefore, to say that it is over tWenty-six feet long.
 In an adjoining cage are two fine West Ar rican pythons (PythOn se6e), obtained in 1873. One of these, shedding it's skin, took bath in the glass water tank within its cage, and remained there visible in an admirable degree. Its companion wandered about the graveled floor, equally visible, and it may be well here to observe that none of the snakes will be covered up in blankets as heretofore, as the use of the blanket was simply for pro vision of warmth. The necessary tempera- ture is now perfectly provided for the steam pipes are carried under the cages at a distance of about four feet below them; the bottoms of the cages are formed of sIate slabs, and the hot air circuIatss in the inter- val, and. thoroughly heating the slate floors, warns the whole. interior of the cages to the degree desirable, generally about 70o to s0o Fahrenheit, the temperature being occasion ally elevated to 90o, when the snakes show 8