El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-17

with the hides of other species, more
or less nearly related-most of which
presumably will come from tropical
America. The python, after all, is
merely a large kind of boa-the big
gest by far Of all the great construct
ing" but nonvenomOus, snakes which
are inhabitants of hot ATTITUDES all
around the world
All the giant serpents of the world
are tropical animals, and, including
the pythOns, belong to the family Of
the bOas. In the region of the ANA
ION and its tributaries, in Brazil, they
are extraordinarily numerous, the
largest of them being the sOcalled boa
constructors" attaining a length of II
feet) and the anacondas. To show
that South America is already to the
fore as a source of snakeskins for
dress purposes. it may be mentioned
that a very attractive novelty for wom-
en- is the anaconda motor coat" for
automobile touring. Made up in deli
cate shades of cream color and brown,
and lined with satin to match, the
material makes most attractive gar
ments, which are especially desirable
by reason of their lightness. They
weigh almost nothing at ALL and II is
sized skins make a coat. but there is
fectly-
How Boss XIII Prey.
The boas, every one of them, includ
ing the pythons ana the anacondas,
are conStrictors-which is to say that
they kill their p~ey by squeezing it
in their coils. A fair-sized boa con-
tsirctor can easily hug a strong man
to death in this way. None of these
great snakes is venomous- That is to
say, they have no poison glands. But
they have big and sharp teeth, and
can bite frightfully.
The method already described for
taking pythons alive relates rarticu-
larly. to their capture for what may
be called the ZoolO::ic1n market e,
for the trade which meets the demand
by circuses and geological gardens.
Most of the anacondas find their way
into captivity in similar ways; and it
is much the same with the boa con-
strictorS, which are paC:cj ar trapped,
by ingenious aboriginal artIficas, along
the Brazilian ~i1,rs wnere, hidden
in the luxurianr vr;sc1atiGc @; the
jungle. they hunt the h:r,ls arc small
animals which furnish their food sup
ply
Snakes Are Scavengers.
The giant snakes have their own
important usefulnes in the scheme of
nature. They are the scavengers of
Swamps and morasses, where other
animals of size are unable TO penetrate
or exist Commonly they infest the
rank underground along the banks Of
rivers, and most of them are fond of
tic, spending half its time in the wa
ter; and. when in captivity. a tank
has TO be provided for it.
Prof Huxley once said that the most
beautiful piece Of anatomy he knew,
considered, was the back
bone of a boa. Each two of the hun
dreds of vertebrae are Joined together
by a ball-and-socket joint, and have
eight other joints in addition. admit
ting of every variety of curvature and
the utmost pliancy of movement. Yet
this really wonderful creature, so eff
ficient in a purely physical sense
for it can. outclimb the monkey and
outswim the fish-is almost helpless
to move on a polished wood or marble
floor. because IT cannot take hold Of
the smooth surface with the cartflagin-
Gus hooks on the ends of its ribs. by |
which il walks" as with feet hidden
beneath the skin. 80,
ella Monsters Used.
Many of the smaller species of
snakes are made nowadays to con-
tribute TO feminine apparel: their
skins affOrding material for belts. etc |
The same may be said of various liz |
ards including the curious ella mon
Ster Of the Arizona deserts, and. most
Importantly OF course, the alligator
which yields its hide for making the |
huge hand bags now in fashion. and /
Tor other decorative feminine accou- |
trements
Allgators in Florida are near to ex- |
-erinlna tlon-an authoritative estimate !
oelng to the effect that 100000 of /
-hese valuable reptiles have been de- !
'proyed IN the fl0wery penirEr:a with /
In the last % y1arS. --ortunatel,.
however there are still unnumbered |
of them scattered over the /
lan overlooked region of the delta /
ot the Mississippi. vrerr their co.,
IAN be collected IN Quantities, Tor a !
suitable fnducemcn1 pr 100. bv tbe /
PROFESSIONAL hunters Who now s1.nn1y !
ne market with live alliga:ors, from
'doles up to y footers. in response to |
IN always active -l"mand
AIIieators Lay NAM Ep.s
The female alligator usually laws
lbout 200 eggs on a sand hank ~ -
'ank, just out Of water they re- /
'emble goose eggs in SIZE and share
Flth hard glossy shells. 1t is an easy
natter to gather them, and to hatch |
hem artfficiaIy in ho-..s of nofe+
ana, at a temDeIa-Ire of 100 degrees
'ahrenheit- The United States fisb
'rIes bureau deems it entirely nrac-
lcable to bring unlimited millions of
into the world by this means
nd to restock with them the dan1e+n5
waters of Florida, which I'D To the
resent time have been The rrinciDa1
ource OF supply to alligators and
iIS@lOT products Rene Bache