The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-15

will prove of immense value to science.
The investigation was commenced by
Mr.. Webster on four .arge rattlesnakes
Curator Smith captured in the woods. The
primary object was to kill them and Sc
cure perfect plaster casts of all reptiles OF
the county for preservation in the mu-
scum. This intention was later changed
and Mr.. Webster determined to break
away from all established RULES and take
the casts of the snakes while alive. This
has resulted in splendid specimens, but
the work has been accompanied by sufti-
cient excitement and danger to satisfy
even an enthusiast.
Mr.. Webster first desired to take cast
of a RATHER coiled ready to strike the
fatal blow, just so the people might know
the time of danger if they ever met
snake in the woods
A large and quarrelsome fellow was Sc
lected for the purpose and placed in a wire
screen cage in the laboratory and his hab-
it's were studied for several weeks. Mr..
Webster, having thoroughly familiar
lied himself with the way the snake scent
ed danger shook his rattles, drew back
for action and struck the death blow, he
subjected the reptile to a dose OF chloro-
form and prepared for making his casts.
The snake was placed on a stone, which
was intended as the base of the cast, and
was coiled up with tail and rattles up
lifted and head high and every mus
Gle drawn for fight. Even though under
the influence of chloroform, the snake was
unmanageable, and siken threads were
necessary to bind the reptire in the posi-
ton on the stone Then the plaster was
prepared and considerable delay was oc
casioned by the snakes movements.
The RATHER had been under the chloro-
form for over an hour when Mr.. Webster
was suddenly startled by the reptile throw
ir1r re raj
was making the mold He was simply
dazed, and the snake as suddenly drew
itself up, began to shake it's rattleS, and
prepared for striking blow. Mr.. Web
ster was scarcely eight inches away from
il during all this time and he was rivit-
ed to the spot. When he could collect his
thoughts he leaped back rapidly and as
soon as the snake had quoted down APP
piled a new dose of chloroform. Mr.. Web
ster believes now that the venomous rep
tile only placed itself in position for battle
instinctively, and that it was really all
the time under the influence of the chic
reform.
The cast was a perfect representation
of the snake, and after duplicates had
been made the reptile was killed. The
skin was then peeled off with great care
and sknlfully drawn over the plaster cast.
The result is a frightfully faithfully repre-
sentation of the snake as il appears in
forest ready to do battle.
All the muscles and peculiarities had
been reproduced. After the snake dies the
briniancy of its skin is lost, but Mr.. Web
ster will remedy this defect in his du-
plicate cast. This he will paint with oil
in the exact colors of the original. This
an opportunity of studying the rattler
and recognizing him again at first sight
The second set of casts was made of
another big RATHER striking the blow and
emitting the poisonous fluid. This proved
an exceedingly difficult and dangerous
operation, as there was a possibility of
the operator getting some of the poison
from the fangs on his hands. When the
snake is striking the blow its mouth is
wide open and its body for a third of is
length rises high in the air. The inside
of the mouth, the tongue, the dangerous
fangs the teeth We're all exactly repro
duced in the plaster, with the aid of
many sil5en threads, and the body for its
entire length, including the small scales
and ratt,es, was fixed firmly in the plas-
ter. Two casts were also made of the
snake in this attitude, the skin being
drawn over one and the other being paint
ed as the first specimen win be.
Casts were also made of copperheads,
black racer snakes, blacksnakes and or
binary garter or house snakes. The cop
perhead is the finest specimen ever
caught in Pennsylvania. 1t was captured
in Allegheny county, within the city linn
it's and measured 81 inches. II was a
powerful fellow and after the casts were
completed it was considered too danger
Gus to save it's life. The racer is also a
remarkably fine specimen and measures
20 inches in length. 1t is harmless as far
as poison Is concerned but has the python
powers of squeezing its victim to death.
1t has remarkable strength and Is con-
stantly watchful and very cunning The
garter is absolutely harmless.
Mr.. Webster still retains his happy fami-
ly Of reptiles in the museum laboratory
he having found that the snakes became
as lively as ever after the effects OF the
chloroform had worn away. He has no
ticed more peculiaritles that he will In
clude in a report for the benefit Of the
people. The collection will be added to
until every specimen OF snake In Ale
gheny county has been reproduced in
plaster.
More elaborate experiments VIII be made
OF the effects OF the poison OF various
snakes on small living reptiles such as
frogs and FISH. and small animals The
snakes will be allowed 10 strike the little
fellows and then the action OF the poison
will be watched. All existing antidotes