Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-23
MUSEUM MEN SEEK
HUGE, UGLY SNAKES
Two Scientists Who Won Their Spurs
ir other JungIes Now Ready
for New Conuuests

New Orleans, La.--With a carefully
selected assortment of rifles, shot
guns. nets, nooses and traps, and a
supply of drugs calculated to ward off
tropical fevers, and serums to Coun.
teract snake venom. l.. Alfred Mann
lardt and Clarence X. Halter, repre-.
sentatives of the American Museum OF
Natural History of New York, are
aboutlo set out from New Orleans on
scientific hunt.
The young men are experts In their
line, skilled psychologists, and they
have already won their spurs as snake
hunters in several perilous expeditions
in the West Indies where the deadly
ferdelance is the dread tyrant Of the
swamp and forest.
At the Monteleone Hotel, Halter
and Mannhardt have room full OF
props" for the staging of their ser.
ious drama of the tropical wilds. There
are several big steamer trunks packed
with everything conceivable in the
way of paraphernalia that might serve
10 abridge the life and liberty Of the
reptilian denizens of the NicaraguaE
wilds, and holding vital and impor-
tant part in the collection are a dozen
ar more cases OF serum prepared b.
Dr. Vital Brazil, who has great
snake experimental colony not far
from Rio de Janeiro.
safety first" remarked one Of the
young scientists with smile az he
held up for the visitors inspection
one OF the little Walls of dark colorea
serum Here's the syringe that goes
with It," producing the second neces-
sary article, with these safeguards,
We hardly need fear the ferdelance Or
even the terrible bushmaster."
The psychologists expect to remain
On the work in Nicaragua until OctO'
her. Then they will return t. New Or
leans and very probably use this city
as the base for the expedition after
fossil remains known to exist in GER
Tain sections OF this state. They were
much interested in several articles
published in the local press regarding
tie great zQuglOdon, the first Of the
cetaceans, once so plentiful in the
Focene and Miocene seas that swept
over Catahoula Parish, La, and if they
Tan arrange, they will seek the fossil
remains of this great marine monster
IA the vicinity of Harrisonburg.
The American Museum OF Natural
History Of New York is easily the
greatest institution of its kind in the
world, with a marvellous collection
showing the fauna Of all known ages,
the more recent fauna being present
in life groups. HerpetOlogy Is one OF
the most interesting branches Of zool-
cgy and as yet, many reptiles are UNI
classed. The young men are about TO
sail for Blueields and the object of
their expedition is to obtain specimens
Of alligators, snakes, lizards, frogs
aud fsh--liying specimens for the
Bronx Park and dead specimens or the
'life picture groups" in the aforesaid
museum.
The life pyc:,1 t.H.cj.@G will be the
most irl~o tant and diflicalt work, as
tho ltSts after gettinG he speci-
.cds will have to photograph and col
rr the surroundings in which the crea-
ture lived. so that a faithful rcproduc-
ton may be made in the museum set
tings. As part of their equipment,
they have a complete Photographic
outfit.
When they reach Nicaragua, Mr..
Halter will direct one expedition and
Mr.. Mannhardt another. These will eX-
tend along both sides of the lofty