The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-09
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The King OF Portugal is somewhat OF
painter, and three Of his works VIII
review. Inc first is pastel containing
Two historical persOnages and represent
ING a scene suggested by Crespo, the
Lusitanian poet; the second is a very
successful attempt 10 paint in oil colOrs
after the realistic manner OF Silva ParJO,
a well known Portuguese artist. and the
third Is a sea view. taken in the estuary
OF the Tagus.
Facts about the interior Of New
Guinea, the least known portion Of the
habltable globe are so scarce that Jean
Theodore Francen Van Gestels observa-
lions mere made IN region untraleNeu
By any other white man, are as valuable
as they are interesting, says LippincOtts.
That great land Of flowers, destitute OF
beasts and birds Of prey, practically free
from poisonous serpents and living in
tropical beauty along magnificent ranges
OF mountains, almost beneath the equa-
tor, seem to WOO the pleasure-seeker, TO
invite the explorer If any land ever did.
Strangely enough. although ii is the larg
est island in the world, leaving out Green
land ana considering Australia a CONT
nent, New Guinea is as yet in the main
terra incOgnita. Surmise and rumOr have
supplied q mass Of material which the
scientist dare not accept, strongly drawn
he must be to study a country so
unique in fauna and nora. Partial pene-
trauon, by D'Albertis, Mawlay, Juckes,
Wallace, Bernstein, Myar, Rafay ana
Forbes, has thrown just enough light on
the interior of Papua TO make II most I'M
portant TO have more. The only white
man known to have crossed the island
from shore TO shore, to have actually
traVersed the vast unknown interior ana
seen the aboriginal Papuans face to face,
IN their native forests, is Van Gestei,
whose additions TO the scant sum of what
We know of PaDua are now for the first
time given to the world. Sir William
MacGregor, now the governor Of British
New Guinea, and one of the most progress
sive men in Polynesia, was, when Van
Gestel crossed New Guinea, an obscure
Scotch missionary lowering in a fifteen
ton yacht along the southeastern coast.
1t is hard for the average man or wo-
man to believe that any species OF the
snake family would ever make attractive
and interesting pets, says the New York
World. So strong is our hereditary hatred
of serpents that many sensitive persons
even dislike TO read Of them or their
habits. Yet it is true that the venomous
and ugly kinds are in the minority and
that several species are absolutely harm
less and very gentle. No better example
of the latter sort need be cited than the
brown snake-"De Kay's little brown
snake" as il is more strictly known.
While not so common a variety as the true
garter snakes (Which name is applied by
tho average individual 10 about five or
six separate varieties, yet they may be
found in their faVOrite haunts all through
the spring, summer and part OF the fall
in Connecticut, New Jersey and New
York. The muddy bitches, shallow creeks
and spring brooks are the chosen abiding
places Of the brown snakes in the early
winter quarters, they may always be
found summing on fiat stones or dry logs
by the creekside in April. They are grace
full in every movement, and quicker than
thought. When once they decide to de-
YOUR a small frog or an aquatic insect, II
is the surest and sWiftest sort OF death
TO the victim. Initiating their larger
brethren, the real water moccasins, these
midgets are fast, fearless swimmers and
spend much of their time in pursuing
small fish. They catch marvellous num-
Der of clubs and sinners. When the crisp
nights and dawns of September come the
little brown snakes take to the uplands.
In sunny, coy, corners and hollows, car
peted with dry leaves, they may be found
sleepiy tasking as late as the end of DC
tober. The cooler weather seems to drive
them from their damp retreats. While
on the high ground they feed on tree
toads slugs and insects of many sorts.
To secure one or two of these beautiful
reptiles is not easy, but may be accom-
plished with a long-handled, light net,
quick eye and ready hand. Kept in
roOmy box, with glass sides good-sized
pool and a bed of dry leaves, with some
growing plants and moss, and placed
where a warm, generous flood of sunlight
can battle the box and its contents nearly
all day, the brown snake will be content
ed He will learn to know his keeper, to
take his food from the latter's fingers
and will teach him many ways and habits
of snakes not TO be learned from books.
IF vou ask anv washington photO-