New-York tribune., 1900-08-30
PETS AT BEDFORD MUSEUM
ALL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
LARGE SNAKES WE'RE CONTRIB
UTED BY CHILDREN

There have been six thousand visitors 20 the
Children's Museum n Bedford Park Brooklyn.
this month. Notwithstanding the heat and the fire.
qUent rains. As soon as schools open and people
return 10 the city this number viii be largely in
creased Fully one half the visitors are adults.
The boys ar5 girls know more about the objects
II the museum than the adult visitors" says DR..
r E Cal, curator OF the institution. This Is
especially true Of plants and animals. In common
with all children up 70 ten years of age the
youngsters most Interested IN The things that
alive. and rhe young mind especially has a
toudness FOR Hte IN motion FOSSILS and deafness
prove-bially dry-as-dust subjects and the
ycung visitors here show the greatest interest in
the pets"
Among these at present are boxes OF snakes
snaiLs and uoads. Two turtles E ehipuuuk two
white Tays and Two japanese waltzing mice The
last tiny creatures, whose dizzy whirlings attract
constant group about their cage, were given BY
Collins AeCord. little boy Of FIatbush. Charlie
Whftenack Of Brooklyn. contributed one OF the
turtles yesterday.
Al OF the pets were given by the children with
the exception OF the larger snakes. The cage IN
which these are confined is usually surrounded by
au Interested throng OF little folks who sit cross
legged On the floor around II and watch with ba-ed
breath the movements OF the thirty occupants
Most ot the reptiles are common garter snakes
TIE black snake IS rather an impressive looking
monster about four feet long, and a blowing viper
1ztte1s its head and Kisses when ne IS disturbed
much = The childrens delight The boys bring FISH
To-1ls and young toeds 10 rneur- and the snakes
have evidently learned 10 know when the car
o. ratioas appears, for they then group them
selves 81 Jhe end Of the cage where they are fed
Nhen q snake dies ne IS fed 70 the land tortoise
Tno Has an especial fondness 1or snakes and some
u1es helps himself 70 the small 1--we ones.
D-- Call teaches the children that none OF the
snakes or toads that they see IN the case should
ever 5e wanronIy killed. because they are the
friends Of the farmers and destroy the insects that
would Otherwise DO great damage 10 the crops
-r Cal attributes the interest exhibited IN nat
-fsi history by the boys and girls 70 nature study
Z lne public schools. The children become special-
+s'5 cary One little girl stands before the shell
2eautiful Specimens. Some one said 70 6Hr one
1sy You seem TO love the shells Yes she re-
t.E-' t.E-' r~ls-ly ! get great deal more from these
+tlas-1if could from reading books
some boys know al about snakes others have
s.-o7ec grasshopperE, and many OF them bring
= L-t-1i-s o. tocKs and minerals which they wish
= EaFe Identified A good many Of them seem 20
so-Aa money boys. tor they VIII ask anxiously.
I5n they look a. II with q great deal OF awe
re IeeIly forms no real part Of the work Of
result ot accident Oe'-is 'iie
Ihe charts and cases Illustrating the life his
lS q Insects are always Of great interest to the
s-;l7H a. are also the cases OF stuffed birds and
c--lnels The lscture room, which has seating,
wishes >, q .1orty. is open to any teacher who
nor e1zs.aoS5 o5+S -er class, al any time when II
a-fsseeo- Specimens from the collections and
4 - are always al the teachers disposal
% - NJ. - u models OF extinct animals Is about
- - ~, and new specimens Of the zoology OF
sr-~s a5S..t- are 70 be added. There Is also 10 be
feg1--It-t. 1Itt.-olal meteorological apparatus.
o~T-se - = with the second week IN October q
u teachers a. eGL1res on meteorology Will be given
e~.- NlFsoays there viii be q course Of thir+een
oo-,-.aa ~ physiology In February there wifi be
-e-'0Ies on mineralogy and nature study