The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-13
REPTILES III / IHgg]2B
Many live Snake tsef: fur Hrs
tFatlve Purposes.

Nesv York Geological Garden Expert
Ds-~crii,es How They t.ere Collect
ed in south OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, ,.ns
Tint Have Queer fsaiiitx-Onc T'hnt
Pres~ia,s- 10 I:e DeRd hen Found.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-There were many
live snakes last night in the lecture room
Of the American Museum Of Natural HIS
tory Some Of them were members Of the
poisonous species. All were in large
glass Jars. the tops of which were covered
with cheese cloth. In some of the jars
thought 10 be the first OF their Kind o be
held captiYes- These snakes were used 10
! illustrate a lecture CT Collecting Snakes
in South Carolina" which was delivered
at the museum before the Linnaean So
ciety, by 2. L DitmaTs, Of the New York
Geological Garden Mr.. Ditnars has
charge of the reptile department of the
garden. Many persons were present to
hear about his experience in hunting rep
tiles in South Carolina, whose attractions
for reptile hunters are not as well known
as Florida, ana TO examine some OF The
handsome and rare snakes which he
brought back with him and which he ex-
/ hibited at his lecture
The jars containing the snakes were ar
ranged at the table at which sat the Ires~
ident of the society, Dr. Jonathan Dwight.
Most of the snakes were in a sleepy cen
dition and seldom moved. On his trip in
South Carolina Mr.. Ditnars captured
Ginety-two specimens, representing four
teen species About ninety young were
born to these snakes soon after their ar
I rival at the New York Geological Garden
The prize snake Of the collection exhibit
/ ed last night. and in fact of the whole
number captured in the chase in South
Carolina. was a red water snake Of a pc
. cuIlar variety Its color generally appears
10 be dull red An interesting variety
: OF the garter snake was also discovered nv
MI Ditmars while he vas riding along
4 cotton field II has a peculiar reddish
/ color. Il is a variety of the ablino garter
type and It IS like the other members Of
this group IN every rekpect, except its col
OF
/ Some snakes are good actors. at least
some snakes which Mr.. Ditmars met on his
trip IN South Carolina One Of the snakes
ne CAPTURED was Of the hog-nose family It
IS so called because its nose resembles the
nose o. pig. It was captured near cot
tonueId, and il quickly evinced a disUosf-
tion 10 show how wei it coIld act It
would pretend it was dead and then il
would show low a live snake acted when
he was not trying to fool anybody In
playing dead the snake actually rolled on
its back. even If disturbed and placed on
It's sides. Mr.. Ditmars exhibited il TO a
number Of colored men in the vicinity
Wnere l. was discovered. He told them
that he would show them what wonderful
control he had over snakes. He would
first make several passes with his hands
over the snake and it would roll on its
back dead Mr.. Ditmars then said that the
spectators should walk some distance from
the snake and then he would collect vitaIi-
y out Of the air for the snake and the
snake would come back 10 life. When the
snake saw that no one was near il turned
over and started TO ice. The coLored men
were greatly Impressed with the great
power possessed by Mr.. Ditmars over
snakes.
Mr.. Ditncars started on his trip from this
city 10 South Carolina on August 3. He
was accompanied by Mr.. Snyder who is
connected with the reptile department of
Carolina thev went to vast wilderness
OF cane growth, known as the Black
Swamp II was devoid Of amphibicus crea-
lures That day they captured TWO snakes
ard IN the night while bordering over
their poor luck, q large snake was seen
crossing a stretch OF white sand Il proved
to be q specimen Of the most handsome
Of water snakes fNarTiX fasciata erytbro-
Easter)- They then went to The Savannah
River where the b7yCus were extensive
and popaloEs with reptile life. Here they
entered the low grounds On the HON
mocks bordering tho low grounds uu,ner-
CHS specimens Of the race runner were oh
served. They found that the only sure
method .. capturing these agile creatures
was with net On peering about for this
species they we're confronted with a rat
snake. which measured over FIVE feet
While stepping on a log in shallow
stream In the low grounds their guide
came suddenly upon 2 cOttonmouth snake
highly dangerous species This reptile
made q Iightning-like dart at The guides
foot bur missed its aim and slid into the
wafer On The day this occurred they cap
tured eleven cottonmouths.
A peculiar fact regarding the feeding OF
these snakes was observed In t2e swamps
in which thew we're found hundreds OF
thousands Of fish had been destroyed by
the evaporation of water. II consequence.
no 1000 Tor these nsh-eatlnS reptiles was
left except their harmless relations. the
water snake They gOrged upon these.
and in localities WheT5 mOCCasiDs were
found common water snakes were rare in
deed One large mOccasin disgarged a
freshly swallowed snake fmediately after
capture The dead snake and the cannibal
were measured, and it was discovered thar
the rnoccasin was only a foot longer than
the reptile composing his dinner. the wa
- snake measuring fTjf& than
three feet
Mr. Ditmars called attention. to the ha5-
IFS OF the black bander snake He said
that it foated in 4 perpendicular position,
with its tail twisted about some aquatic
plant.