The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-02
SNAKES FROM FLORIDA.
The star of the Collection n Dia-
mOnd Rather With Bad Temper.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Sixty new snakes arrived at the Zoo
logical gardens and were placed on ex-
hibiticn for the first time yesterday.
1t was the most notable addition to the
reptile house since the advent of the
two cobras several months ago. The
snakes came from Florida, being shipped
here by express fla a huge box divided
up into compartments.
The largest of the collection was a big
diamond rattlesnake six feet long.
When the box was opened it was found
coiled up ready 10 spring upon the first
person it saw. Its tongue was darting
in and out. and the noise of its rattles
could be heard for some distance, tell
ing OF its anger as plainly as though
y had uttered deep and terrible oaths
heepef thompson, whose experience Of
sixteen years enables him to read rep
tlles IKE book. was ready for him.
ne cleyefly slipped a moose over the
poised mead of the rattlesnake, pulled
II against a pronged fork and then the
snake was secured. IL spit forth about
ten drops of venom In its struggles, and
was altogether one Of the most savag
snakes ever received at the zoo"
When placed in the cage with the other
rattlers the new specimen was as nerV-
1uS a. shah boy waiting Tor MS turn
10 make speech. 1t squirmed around
ana absolutely refused to feel comfort
able. Ever since his arrival he has kent
ms rattlers going ike the bones" of an
END man at a minstrel show. AS may be
imagined, he was the leading sensation
IN Keeper ThompsOn's happy family for
rev, II any, of the visitors at the 400"
hau ever heard the sound Of an enraged
RATHER before
1t resembles the noise of a big locust,
as MI. thompson put ii, and it sounded
very ghoulish to the women who lis
tened to 1t, and who had frequently read
~ ,tne curious warning of this snake.
it Kept IN a striking pose all day long
out nnally became wonderfully entWined
with the other snakes, keeping its head
and tail free. II any one touched the
paper above the cage II flashed its tongue
out rapidly and kept its musical tail
wagging, Notwithstanding its uncomfort-
able position.
Another curious specimen was the cy-
ciops snake. Its eyes are very curiously
placed, so near the nose as to give IL the
erect Of having eyes, nose, and mouth
all together at a single place. 1t is one
OF the rarest snakes of the collection
1t Is about three and a half feet long
Two me harlequin snakes, gaudily col
ored and full of life, We're also in the col
lection. They Immediately set about to
quarrel with the others Of their ilk who
occupied the cage. For a time things
looked exciting, but II eventually turned
out to be all q Joke That's the trOuhle
they're fooling. Keeper Thompson had
a lively time transferring the big water
snakes to their tank. There was gnash-
ing of teeth among the big black speci-
mems, and they rivaled the rattlesnake
in viciousness. They are dark in color
now and very large, but when they get
a few more months added to their lives
they will turn lighter in color and much
larger besides. half-dozen chicken
snakes, four or six black snakes, about
the same number of whip snakes, hog
fnose snakes, ground rattlers, and brown
and branded water. snakes, were among
those added to, the big collection.