New-York tribune., 1902-06-25
TO KEEP 4 TERRARIUN.
HOW TO MAKE ONE A SUCCESS BET
TER THAN AN AQUARIUM. SAYS
MRS. NORTHROP

mo one can keep a torrarium and not get inter
ested in its inhabitants. said Mrs John I. North
rop, the 6otanist. yesterday. In my opinion. il
is entertaining ard instructive than an
aquarium, because the animals that live the land
are more intelligent than those that live in the
water"
For invalid or shut in nothing could give more
delight than the gift Of terrarium The activities
and dividualities OF the little inha biting
it are bound win the attention Of those who
Indifferent at first School children sometimes
get 2 little tired Of nature books and study
which form so great part Of their school work.
but q terrarium will never weary them. and from
it they will learn great many practical lessons.
Mrs. Northrop claims that either terrarium
al aquarium stocked with animals and plants gath
cred by the owner from woods and water is many
tines interesting than If bought Of dealer.
During the vacation is the time of all
others 70 sather the supplies The terrarium has
its problems well all other terrestrial things.
and the VoGacity Of animal kind furnishes the
serious ones For instance after exhibiting with
pride ones happy family Of little toads frogs.
lizards and snake. i is something OF a shock
find later that the snake bloated and torpid. is the
only survivor the case his companions having all
been ruthlessIy swallowed by him at a single meal.
Ny things eat each other up" is common COM
plant OF people first starting terraria.
To such expression MIS- EoIthrop replies:
We'll. that Is nature study. TOO L is interesting
TO see what things eat Hhat You are bound TO
have tragedies Doth the aquarium and terrarium.
The only way TO avoid them is 10 get animals that
Of The size, and even then accidents Will
happen"
There are Two terraria and an aquarium in Mrs.
Northrop's pretty library den. In the terraria
at present are De Kay snake. hyIas. wood frogs,
snas OF various kinds. little toads and TWO Florida
lizards. Ordinary wa-Ci.u cases with wire screen
coverings are used for lue purpose. In the bottom
Of each case there is laye~ Of sand and Of WOODS
earth moss, from which variety Of vegetable
lie IS growing. The smaller Of the TWO cases,
IL
lowest place Mrs. Northrop thinks is Of the more
convenient size. In the larger case, from the
woods earth and a couple Of acorns that were
iroppe6 into started q Jange Of vegetable
growth and Two tiny oak trees In This miniature
jungle live the snake and seyera. hylas and wood
frogs. The readiness with which the animals Of
even low order o. life adapt themselves 70 artl-
fetal methods is very astonishing 10 persons who
have never had intimate and familiar dealings with
them. The De Kay snake, which has been IN cap
tiyity more than year. KNOWS - wei as the more
igent lizards that Jarr!nC OF the cover OF
L4s hahitation means something 70 eat for some
body. and slightest sound from the roof his
tiny head peers out among fhe foliage to see what
is going on. Il angIeworm depends from his
mistresss finger there is a quick darting motion
upward and then worm and snake disappear into
the depths together.
Frogs. and toads too. know when meal time is at
hand viii flies and bees from the fingers
NJ De Kav as the pretty. vevety brown snake
is called. mas a reputation for being gentle and
kind He and little John Northrop are great
friends and he crawls up the sleeve and over his
friend with perfect freedom He has lived with
tiny Pickering frogs for long time and has never
eaten one OF them AS much cannot be said OF his
predecessor q garter snake, who ate two hylas as
fast 3, he could catch them. Mrs. Northrop claims
that as much difference Of disposition IS eNICeht
in snakes as in people, one knows them.
ToaCs in her opinion. are more lnteihgent ana ana
quicker witted frogs A toad VIII see a ny
as is pat Into the case, but Il takes a
frog some time 10 comprehend the event. The
toads get very tame and 90 not object IN the least
70 being handled.
The Florida lizards or as they better known,
American charneleons. z big wood snail, a hyIa
OF wood frogs live IN the small case
The vegetation of that case i more scanty tlaT
In the her and il : easier watch the occu-
pants There Is an Asparagus plumosus (too OFTEN
mlscaleo asparagus fern. partridge slhe <tilu
some little woodland plants that spring out OF the
rich soil. In each case there Is hchen and moss
covered stick for the animals 10 ronlD over ana
rest upon and dishes for water and food For con
Nsrerce king, the animals al nave names:
The lizards Tommy and Lizzie, the beauties OF
with his brilliant coat which changes from almost
te4low tint through the browns 10 a VlNlu gIe,i1
IL
, The little creature is especially attractive when
me orange red gar sack IN his throat Is olslllueu
II Is curious 10 note the habits Of the anlIl!aIS
<eafiy al ot them choose particular spot IN "tIti
siesp. and select II nightly " men the caE isL.s
peslns 10 fade, Tommy seeks upper branch OF
ne asparagus, stretches himself upon IL aTlC turn
kes more secluded place and hides herself among
.Le moses and hchens Of the stick over the I'M
pio'lseo swamp in the water dish Neither Tommy