The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

from all parts OF the world have been
preserved. These observations not only
are Of practical value but also embrace
strange experiences of curator and KEEP
ors. Among the characteristics noted are
traits strange enough to create astonish-
ment even in the ranks OF the nature takers,
The most formidable cagefNl OF snakes
ever exhibited in the reptile house con-
sisted OF a colony of laucehead virers
from Martinique. These ssfpents are called
fer-de-lance by the CreoIer French. The
curator had been seeking TO obtain speci-
mems Of this reptile owing TO repeated in
1ri-ses9 on the snake house floor:
NJ Letters were despatched to various Earts
Of the, West Indies. South and Central
America, but everybody seemed to be
afraid OF the snakes involved and refused
60 catch them alive az any Price. Finally
a welcome rumor came. by way Of New
Orleans. . -,-
An itinerant' Frenchman, had been ex-
hibiting a collection Of South American
and West Indian s~erpents in that city and
had started north with his reptiles on a
coast steamer. He arrived in New York
IN a condition commonly known as broke.
He had bought the snakes 0n' speculation
and his deal had gone altogether wrong.
As soon as he arrived in New York he sent
word to Che park that he had snakes 60 sell.
The Frsnchman proved 70 be a small.
sallow. highly excitabls individual and
had taken up his abode in the cellar OF an
Italian boarding house on Meecker street.
he was deathly afraid Of the contents of a
number of very dirty looking boxes.
As the writer endeavored 20 peer through
the Crevices Of one of these boxes he was
crested with a harsh whirr from within
and an ominous shake OF the ~Frenchman's
head. as the Owner grunted "Cascavella,'
this term standing for the South American
rattlesnake. This was a good find. but
peering through an eighth Of an inch creyice
was unsatisfaOtory, inspection. The owner
then explained hat glass tops had been
fitted over the boxes in New Orleans, but
these had been left behind in coming North
to save expense.
Bending over another box the writer
started 90 pry on the cover when he was
interrupted by a veritable shrek from his
companion;
-Jararacal". screamed the excitable little
a smapipere BANANA. lie fer-de-lance."
As be pronounced the three names OF the
tropics for the long sought for snake, he
climbed a pile of dusty lumber with apelike
agility and perched close to the ceiling.
A bSard pried from the box cover showed
che Prize. a ~sinuousr Eelvety oliya. object,
with lavelinlike head. With the Frenohl
man Shouting exsfbitaut prices from the
top Of the woodpile. the writer b~argained
for the snakes-six lance heads and four
big rettlers. all exposed to view, to the
helpless rage and fear of the owner.
II vtas not until prices had been decided
and all OF the snakes fought into bdrlap
bags and these securelytied tina the former
owner descended, and then for his scare
enjoyed a slight revenge upon the writer.
In a shallow tank in a corner writhed a
blacklist object, barely distin guishable az
to shape in the muddy water.
Here's something else. What yis it?"
asked the writer. 80. -
-Salamander," was the answer, accom-
panied by a crafty smile.
Nonsense, there are no s~alamanders OF
that ixe in South America It's acme kind
OF fsE and for the purpose of examination