Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
ALL SORTS OF REPTILES
Collection Of Snakes, Lizards and Scorpions
at National Museum.
Wonderful White Ants From Liberia
Rattlcrs Of the Diamond Variety
Other Features.

Museum building is department, view
| of which would have more effect on a man
accustomed to hard drinking than
division of members Of the w. c. T. L.
marshaled before him in battle array all
determined to make him sign the pledge.
As may be imagined. there are snakes
connected with the little upstairs corner
and some of them are calculated to make
the hair even of the cold water advocate
stand up in alright. There are all sorts
of reptiles and creeping things in the gal
lery nook, and the smell of the alcohol and
other preparations in which they are pre-
served is plainly noticeable The place is
dark and gloomy, a veritable chamber of
horrors, and a glance at the immense bot
ties with their loathsome contents is not
calculated to inspire confidence in the mind
of the beholder.
DR.. Hay. who was at work there today,
showed The Star reporter a number of
specimens lately received from all over the
world, two or three of them being of far
more than ordinary interest One of the
reptiles shown, which was secured by the
expedition to Liberia, of which Prof Cook
was a member, is horned snake an en-
tirely new variety so far the museum
is concerned. and one which would be re-
sarded a specimen of value by any in
stitution of like character.
OF the Viper Variety.
known scientifically as the "btis gaboni-
ca the latter name referring to the Ga
boon. in whose neighborhood it is found.
1t is one of the few horned specimens in
existence, but the horns are plainly dis
cernible, and occupy prominent position
on the forepart of the head, on each side of
the nasal holes.
The snake was secured by Mr.. Rollo
Cook, who was a member of the Liberian
expedition 1t was, literally, run across by
a native who was cutting his way through
the forest in front of the party. Foriu-
nately, the snake diG not have a chance to
strike, the man had has foot on it, 1t
is very poisonous and most venompus-
looking.
The head of the snake is fiat and is very
large. considering the size OF the snake, ii
being only about four feet IN length. IL is
however, thick in comparison with its
length. The horn gives it most nideous
and repulsive appearance. 1t is about a
quarter of an inch in length and is divided
1t is not poisonous, and merely serves the
purpose of giving the reptile a ferocious
appearance. 1t resembles TO some extent,
the head of the rhlnoceros the little eyes
peering wickedly Oh each side of the nasal
organs.
Lizards of Large Size.
In the same collection are a number of
lizards, of large size, but considered HARM
less, and scorpions of immense proportions
The "stinger' of the latter is on the end
of the tail, and when an opportunity is Of
fered the scorpion sinks this into its en-
envy. with such force that it is Withdrawn
with difficulty. The sting is venomous, but
is not thought to be necessarily fatal to
human being.
Some of the gigantic white ants, with
which some sections of Liberia abound,
were shown. They are of different sizes,
comprising soldiers workers and
queens One of the latter shown was
about an inch long; The jaws of the
workers are powerfully developed. Some
varieties of the ants build mounds high,
or higher. than a man. in which they live.
A member of the expedition told The Star
reporter that he threw a rat in among a
lot of them, on the march, and in few
minutes only the bones were left, the flesh
having been removed by the creatures If
a person gets In their way, in the forest
they make things lively for him.
One of the greatest curiosities in the
reptile line comprised in that collection
and shown the reporter by DIR. Hay is a
Florida rattlesnake of the diamond va
riety, about six feet and a half in length,
and nine inches in circumference. The
scales on the RATHER are like those on a
Large fish, and its head is nearly as large
as a mans fist.
Formula BILE Adversary.
1t must have been in life, as 1t is now in
alcohol. a terribly repulsive object, and a
most formidable one to meet in combat
The specimen, it was stated, was the larg-
est of the rattlesnake variety ever seen by
any Of the persons connected with the de-
partment. The poison fangs, which are 10
Gated in the upper jaw, are nearly half an
inch In length, and are hooked, being as
sharp as a needle. There are two of them,
sometimes three, and there are always
what are known as ''supernumerary'' ones.
ready to take the place of any that are
broken or removed.
The fangs of the Liberian viper or .'bitis
gabonica," though the snake is at least one
third smaller. are about as large as those
of the giant rattlesnake. Even il there
were no poison glands the simple bite would
tear a mans hand terribly.
Another specimen, which was sent to the
museum recently by DIR. Abbott, the fam
GUS Philadelphia explorer, from India, is
that of a snake nearly fourteen feet in
length. Its head is nearly as large as that
Of a baby. The reptile has not yet been
classified. 1t is regarded, however. as
most curious specimen, and one of great in
terest in the reptile collection.