The evening world., 1911-09-19
Wife of Bronx Zoo Curus
tor Seeks the Deadly
Reptile in the Wilds
of SuNiUan County and
Children Aid Her.
Hunting Defenseless Ele-
plants, Lions and
Tigers With Firearms
Is Simply Butchery,
She Says-Rattler Is a
Real Fighter.

Mrs. Clara Ditmars. wife OF Curator
Raymond L. Dimars. Of the Bronx Zoo,
10 the only woman. so far as there il
any record. who hunts tho deadly rat
tlesnake for the pure sport and ad-
venture of II.
Mrs. Dftmars says the rattlesnake 10
the sportiest OF all game 10 seek, and
as trophies OF her prowess she has a
big bag OF the squirming reptiles, their
fangs In perfect working order. which
she captured In the wilds about For
estine. sullivan County, N. Y. The in
trepld s~portswoman. tanned glow
ing with health. Is enthusiastic over her
trip.
She took her two little daughters.
Gladys and Beatrice. aged seven n
Ave respectively. when she accompanied
Curator Dltmars with his snake nooses
and bags for the rock-strewn surface
Of Sullivan County this summer. The
trip. just ended. developed the fact
that not only are the little girls un-
afraid OF tho snakes. but they hunt
them as bravely as do their parents.
'Of course / am not afraid of snakes"
said Mrs. Ditmars to-day when discus
sing her hunt with a reporter for The
Evening World. "In fact. l rather be-
lleve l love the sport. You don think
IT'S sport? why. the ra,tlcsnake Is the
gamest of all living creatures OF the
Wild, Hunting defenseless elephants.
lions or tigers Is a horrible butchery.
an unsportsmanlike advantage with fire.
arms and explosive bullets!
with DR.. Crotalus. as I call the rat
tier. It is a different thing. Here is
sport!' and the pretty little woman
threw back her head. while her dark
eyes shone with the Joy OF the chase.
LEADER OF THE REPTiLiAN
ARisTocRAcY.
"Do you know that the rattlesnake
Is the leader OF reptllian aristocracy
He is the most gentlemanly of snakes
his code Of ethics compares favorably
with that OF some members of the hui
man family: an accomplished duellist
slow to AXE offense and loath to pro
woke a combat: but when the conhic'
is not to be avoided he issues a lorna
declaration of war in conformity to tn,
best traditions Of civilized nations. ant
begins to fight. For his prowess as
fighter he commands a great deal o.
respect. please remember that.
Now so much for his value as an an
tagonist to be hunted n captured; q
worthy antagonist of any sportsman
who Is willing to enter the lists-one life
In the balance against the other. DR.
Crotalus has another side. a virtue II
fact. and that is why I dub him al
NJ. D.. and call him a useful and de-
sirable member Of the earth's society
A few years ago such a suggestion woult
have been derided and perhaps It vii
be scorned even to-day. but such Is tn,
case. Scientists who know have dis
covered that the rattlesnake carriel
with him medicine potent In the trent
ment OF certain serious human ailments
that the venom by which he takes tn,
lives Of his enemies may be used e
restore to health the victims Of certain
Affections.
"Under treatment by hypodermic in
lection OF rattlesnake venom patient.
who have suffered from idiopathic epil
epsy have been cured. Crotalin. as tn,
venom Is called. has also been success
fully experimental with In the treatmen'
OF forms OF insanity and other seriou,
or deadly ailments for which science ha.
yet found no cure.'
Mrs. Ditmars proudly points out I'm,
big fellows In the snake house In tn,
Bronx Zoo as ones she caught hersel
and the whole Ditmars family are look
ing forward to next years vacation
when they will again hunt the danger
Gus but sporty" RATHER in his rock,
haunts OF Sullivan County.