Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-08-31
REPTILESIN THE "ZO0.''

the annals of the Geological Garden was
the transfer which took p lace recently
Of the reptiles and snakes fl ON the vari-
Gus departments in which they have
been hitherto stationed to the new rep
tile house, commenced about year
ago, and Of which we have already given
8 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 SO 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
great elephant, when the funds thus
realized have been turned to snch good
account. In transferring animals of the
higher classes. and even of the
lower class of mammals, some degree
of!ntel!i-ence, and more especially of
affection tor their keepers, renders con-
troN 70 a large extent possible, and little
or no danger is incurred; but with rep
tiles she case is totally different. They
become It harmed by the unusual treat
ment, and no one can handle yeno-
NOUS snake with lmpunity, 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 IAN make sudden and long springs;
and the non poisonous kinds, such as
bows and pythons, can coil with the
most powerful grasp, round the bodies
of men and animals. Crocodiles and al
ligators have strong jaws, which may
easily asnputate limb: and even t,r-
NO one would voluntarily incur. The
tasks of transference commenced yes
terday at a little before ii in the morn
ing, and was completed in the after
noon without hitch Of any kind. The
greatest credit is due to the preconcep-
ton of the means and modes by Mr..
Bartlett, and to the carrying out of his
instructions by bis son and by the keep
erg, Thompson and Tyrell. 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 alliga-
tors 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 rail-
ings OF any kind, but the amphibious
reptiles sire prevented from escaping by
by the overiung of the rim of the basin.
The first snake removed was the very
poisonous hamadryad, (Ophiophagas
mate Of the Gardens since 1875. This
snake can dart to height of FIVE or six
feet, and it's transference 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 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
tronts y! the cages are Of plate glass, in
single sheets. BY opening the interme-
date 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
wall. During the morning the hama.
dryad sprang on to this ledge, which ia
about five feet from the floor and about
eighteen inches wide, and effected a
Judgement On it by pressing it's body
unto an almost rectangular shape, in
which remarkable position it continued
TO move ON the ledge until it's head
reached the ground, and then it COM
pleted its performances until the ex-
treInlty of it's tail had passed the ledge,
when the residue of it's body fell away,
= To extricate the large pythons from
their old habitations, Of which they had
been inmates for many years, the fronts
OF the old cages had to be taken out al
together, and in doing this on the pre-
vious day one of the reticulated pythons
managed to escape. It was found, how
ever. yesterday morning, under the hot
waterpipes, and was safely captured in
canvas bag, This proved a happy in.
to the new house with ease and liberated
with facility into it's noble quarters
This is one of the largest, and its COM
panion is the largest snake in the me-
nagerie. Itisa fine reptile, over fifteen
feet in length, and remarkably active.
Thompson and Tyrrell carried the bag
into the cage, untying it, shot the great
creature out, and then retired by the
rear door. Left to- = itself it
u,oved rsrnidlv. foruard nt,uch;nr with
its bifnrcated fouone the class rom. the
walls. everything II wentalonp # then
mnantad ono nf tba two nak 'fraas and
wonnd and tw;staS itsalf ovar evaru
branch rest;nc ito haad avarv nova
again mon one Or other If them FIR a
few seconds and then movino on afresh.
Afferwards ia hnre cornnan;on wac aim.
ilarly hronahf into 'the caoa and shIot ont 1
of its sack when il cnmm encad to move