The evening world., 1894-01-06
SNAKES AND TURTLES As PETS.
Bright Boys Are Members Of the
Harlem Geological Society.
Tho President Has n Remarkable
Collection OF Insects.

Possibly the most unique organization
OF its kind in New York, or Yery likely
in the country, Is that OF the Harlem
Geological Society, which has Just cele-
brated its hrst anniversary.
1t is a society composed entirely OF
boys, lone of its members being over
seventeen years of age, banded together
for the purpose of studying natural his
tory in its several branches.
1t was establis he'd Just a year ago by
Master Charles Heazlitt Caldwell. of
2Oio Seventh avenue, who has been one
Of its most active and earnest workers.
His original plan was to found IL so
ciety for the study of entomology alone,
as 1t is that branch in which he is par
ticularly interested. He succeeded in
persuading two of his boy friends TO
unite with him in the enterprise, and
together they formed the charter mem
hers" as 1t were. of this youthful organi-
cation. which has just completed It's first
successful year.
Soon others Joined them, and after a
time 1t was thought best to enlarge the
field for study and take in other branches
of natural history. In June last IL"
association was officially named the
Harlem Geological Society," and now
all Its members wear Il neat little silver
pt'lst, am i1t INITIAL lelltIS Ill DUO
enamel.
The meetings. which are conducted
strictly in accordance with parliament
airy law. are held every two weeks, on
the different. members. AT these meet
ings original papers are read by the
boys upon subjects in which they are
most Interested. the writer's having been
appointed BY the President at a previous
ingly clever, and well illustrated with
4 n ntN altA-tA L. ,hA .l.
Many OF the members have specialtlcs
to which they devote their energies, both
In collecting and studying. For ex-
OF the finest live collections of these
repulsive reptiles in New York city.
1t is curious to see how affectionately
he handles them-that is to say, some
of them--for among this interesting col.
lection is a pair of "diamond-back''
rattlesnakes, whose bite is. the most
from this snake retains its venom for
many months. and will even then in
stantly kill II placed upon the tongue OF
an animal.
Another interesting snake in this col
lection is an Egyptian asp, and the
boy has also a thunder snake, from
California. It is nearly six feet long, but
to the .blacksnake family.
Another. boy makes a speciality of live
turtles, which he treats as so many pets,
AM dIiioH6 tneHl 10 IL very rare variety
with the extraordinary name, 'Muhlen-
bergu." He also has two rare land tur-
ties from California. and one from
Greece.
Other members collect salamanders and
lizards, both from this country and
abroad. and the founder OF the society.
as already stated. devotes his energies
to entomology, His collection is really
quite remarkable, n comprises nearly
two thousand species of beetles, butter
flies and moths from all over the
.,~sll NJ l~1al xpn 81 a. 80 ,.Va1l ,-nn
resented. and these the boy has person
ally collected. More than half the moths
and butterflies within fifty miles of
New York may be found In this collec-
ton, and all are carefully mounted,
classified and labelled.
The Society is now well established