The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-10
PRODUCTS or CALIFORNIA.
home Interesting Specimens Collected by
Dabbler In Natural HlafArv

PRODUCTS or CALIFORNIA.
some Interesting Specimens Collected BY .
Dabbler In Natural History.
Capt W. c. Pidge, the superintendent
of the Inyo marble quarries near the
lake, has two jars of alcohol in which
are to be seen objects of unusual inter-
est. The most conspicuous at first sight
is tremendous tarantula- This great
hairy and hidous-looking spider has its
legs much doubled up for lack of room
IN his present quarters, but manifestly,
when he had a chance to spread him.
self, it is safe to say he could cover q
circle with his extended legs of not less
than five inches diameter. In the same
alcoholic swim with his big tarantula
IS scorpion of like gigantic proper
tons, and a mighty ugly and danger
ous-looking object he is-more forbid
ding in looks, perhaps, than the taran-
tula, yet the bite of the latter is lar
more dangerous than the sting of the
scorpion.
Mixed up with these two terrible
looking insects is another no less terri
looks This is one of the little rattle
snakes known as the ''side-winder,"
because of his peculiar method of pro-
erosion, which is sidewise, one end d.
q time, rather than straight ahead. like
other reptiles. The side-winder is
found in great numbers in the hot
deserts, and during the warmer sum-
Re 81 L.
unless he happens to fetch up in a
comfortable place like the folds of .
blanket. If there happens to be a
prospector or other person in the
blanket, all the better for the side
.winder. He will warp himself up
along side and stay there till morning
if permitted to do SO. 1t is said his
bite is certain death Nevertheless. we
never hear of any deaths from that
cause. The captains specimen was
one OF seven he found under the same
rock near the quarry.
With these is another snake foot or so
in length, which for certain powers and
peculiarities can challenge the rep
tile world This little snake has per-
feet head Oh either end OF its body
not only that, but during his life irne
he could and did go in either direction
without turning, just as readily one
way as the other. As a reptile he is as
complete double-ender as one of these
double-ender ferry boats, or even more,
since his reversing gear works quick
as a flash: and no matter which way
he goes he has complete lookout
astern as well as ahead. This speci-
men was found under rock which had
been turned over. He would dart
ahead foot or two at time, then as
suddenly stop. Then when cane or
stick was put in front of his eyes he
would reverse and dart right back, the
other end or head first, precisely as if
that were the only head he possessed,
and as if that were the front end he had
depended ON all his life. Then, when
an obstacle was placed in front of that
end back he would go, the other head
first, as if that were the only head he
possessed. This is considerable of a
snake story, and some of the snake ed
itors may not believe it, nevertheless
it is given as the actual truth.
The captain not long since made an
other capture-that of transparent,
or translucent, lizard, which in that re-
spect was quite as much of curiosity
as this double-ended snake. This lizard
was almost six inches in length, of
white or pale green color, and SO trans
parent in his tissues you could see
through him plainly enough to make
out the outlines of objects beneath him
and see the general plan of his interior
arrangements. This lizard got out of
the sack in which he had been caught
or held while the captain was looking
up suitable jar in which to pickle
him like the others, and SO made good
his escape, very greatly to the regret of
all who had seen this wonder.-Bishop