The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-01
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Correspondence Pkiioddplda PraL
n. Donald Burns. an animal trainer,
who spent many years in the employ OF
p. 4. Barnum, yesterday received q
communication from the Worlds Fair
commissioners in relation TO den OF
snakes for the exposition. Mr.. Burns
has had considerable correspondence
with the commissioners oyer his pro-
posed exhibit Of from two TO dozen or
moro reptiles OF every form that inhabit
all known. regions OF the earth. lie
was informed yesterday that suitable
arrangements would be made for his
great collection OF snakes, and he would
be given all possible assistance in col
lecting every species Of tho reptilian
race.
lie proposes to make this great den
of snakes, which will be placed in the
natural history building, one OF the
most startlingly realistic exhibitions
ever known. Already he has moro than
fifty different species in readiness Tor
the fair and his agent are at work all
over the world in collecting serpents in
their great variety OF forms.
GREATEST oPsNAHE COLLECTIONS.
"Yes," said Mr.. Burns, when l saw
him yesterday at No. Iii Roosevelt
street, ~ have undertaken the by no
means easy task of supplying every
known species OF snake to the worlds
fair. 1t will be tho greatest collection
ever known and it will be made one oil
tho most remarkable exhibitions OF rep.
tiles ever witnessed. My idea Is not
alone TO have the greatest den Of SER
penis in full view, but also 10 permit
those who desire TO view the snakes at
meal time. The multitude OF unbe-
levers as to the power serpents possess
OF swallowing q prey, the diameter OF
whose body exceeds many fold that OF
their own, will, il they desire 1t, be en-
abled TO witness the feat.
"Not long ago naturalist came TO
New York with one OF the most mag
niticent collections OF serpents eve:
saw, and have had the pleasure OF
witnessing great many. IL was this
gentleman's intention to take his splen-
did collection OF snakes through the
country and give a lecture on them.
But the people displayed no interest
whatever, and this naturalist. who had
spent the best part OF his life i'll secur-
ing his collection OF reptiles and study
ing the serpents OF the world, went
broke. Ho was forced TO sell the most
rare and costly OF his collection for
enough money to keep the wolf from
the door.
"Now, IL he had gone to Europe his
life work would have been appreciated
and no wonld at once haYo been recog-
nized as q true naturalist and pan OF
science. Tho fellows who spin hair
raising yarns about snakes in the
museums and eircuses make living
out OF 1t, while the true artist, rs the
gentleman referred to- really was, is
forced to poverty because he wanted to
give the public genuine goods. Well,
at any rate, hope to be able TO interest
the thousands who will visit the Worlds
Fair by its exhibition Of reptiles Two
or more species OF every known reptile
will BIO shown in great den"
REPTILES THAT WILL DE BARRED.
''But as all snakes do not agree will
it BIO advisable to have them alto.
gether?"
"Well, have not yet fully perfected
the arrangements pertaining to the dis
play OF tho reptiles in tho natural his
tory building. The idea that strikeg me
us most likely to be adopted is to have q
great inclosurO OF very heavy glass in
the center OF tho building. There
would be miniature lake and swamp,
trees, rocks, and dry surfuce. Now, Of
course, VIC would only put snakes in tho
den that agreed. The king snake that
is common to the western and middle
states, where it is frequently con-
founded with the chicken snake, which
it very much resembles, though its body
is much Simmer, would have to be put
in separate case.
"Tllis snake derives its name from tho
implacable hostility it m0nifests to all
other reptiles. Nor are its attacks con.
fined to the nonvenomous,t orI once saw
king snake pursue and kill n rattle
snake. 1t feeds on rats, mick, frogs and
birds. Some say that it swallows tho
snakes that it Kills. My idea is to let
tho public witness the reptiles at meal
time especially. They can learn more
few minutes by practical observation
than they could by reading whole
room full OF books on reptiles. Another
sbecies OF snake which now have, and
which will not be placed with the happy
family in the main den OF reptiles at the
fair, is the experimenting hamadryas,"
Mr.. Burns exhibited this species Of
snake, which Is closely allied to the
cobra, being almost as deadly. He has
lust secured pair OF them Tor tho fair,
It is an olive hue on the back and dull
orange below. The female is OF dirty
brown with cross bands Of white.
A SNAKE THAT DEvouRs ITS KIND.
!'The hamadryas," continued Mr..
Burns, "is a very difficult snake to Sc.
cure, II Is peculiar in that its sole food
seems to be reptiles, Of which lizards
and snakes, whether venomous or
otherwise, constitute tho principal
part. 1t is industrious and courageous
in pursuit OF Its prey. u erects its head
verv hlph, and with dreadful kissing
expands the hood, following every mo.
ton Of its prey. AT favorable moment
Gives its victim bite which produces
almost instant death from poisoning.
The swallowing next follows, after
which the reptile Is in state OF coma
for a dozen or more hours.
.It does not mako another meal for
ten or twelve days. Its bite is said to
be- as fatal as the cobra, being sufficient
to produce death in an elephant in two
Lilo khn rnhrn Il il nYinnrnna