Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-30

I treat after helm finger D inted l brought in a
bunch of bananas and made movie Oh the
greedy animals, which / called Dinner In the
Rogues' Gallery One monkey distinguished
himself by thrusting an entire banana cross
wise into his mouth one end into one pouch
Of the cheek and the other skilfully inserted
in the other pouch He then put one finger
in his mouth and broke the banana in the
middle"
The finger-printing Of the monkeys is only
one of the many interesting experiments that
DR.. DitmarG constantly carrying on at the
New York Geological park. Usually these
activities, started for the curator's personal
entertainment, turn out to be of scientific In
terest Thus when he first set up his movie
apparatus in the zoo and announced his IN
tention Of filming the various species, no one
was very greatly impressed. Yet many or
these pictures have proved OF great value In
the same casual way DR.. Ditmars has succeed
ed in building up a collection of reptiles
which is recognized as one of the finest in
the world.
A Ian Who Likes Snakes
Like several other well-known naturallsts
this curator is not only a great student Of
reptiles-he is a great adm1rer or them. II
am never so happy" he says, "as when L am
on a ledge all acrawl with rattlers. | take
as much delight in their gorgeor' coloring
as jewel collector might in the prize stones
that come into his possession.
He himself has captured many prize specl-
m ems for the zoo. He knows ABOUT ~ snaAe
dens where snal-es hibernate, all located
within so miles of New York, and about this
time of year he starts out on a snaKe-hunC-
ing expedition from which he always re-
turns with a bag full of Kissing reptiles IL
makes him furious, however, to hear OF otner
neople hunting snakes, especially II they
hunt to kill them. For this reason ne Keeps
secret the loca' ons of his snake dens as II
they contai cd b led treasure Inc most
that he will divulge is that they are TO De
found largely in the RAMPAGE hills of New
Jersey.
Last wear 7 motored about a thousand
miles and walked and climbed don't know
how many more in making round OF my
snake dens," says DR.. Ditmars, ana No"
have the places all char'ed. l nave 10 Keep
them a closely guarded secret or la1neiS 10y li
ing near them would destroy the oens Will
dynamite"
The curators own snake-hunting weapon
is merely a ha1 mless forked stick, with
prongs not over two inches long. This IS
iabbed at the snakes head so as tc pin II 10
earth. Then another stick is laid across his
head close to his Jaws.
"I usually rest my knee on the second
stick to hold it in place, and then, while the
snakes head is held powerless to move
grasp him around the neck with one manu-
in such a fashion that the thumb and second
finger are firm against the back of his jaws
and the index finger pressed against tne
rear of his head. If your fingers are quar-
fer of an inch too far back, though, the
snake can whip its head around and strike;
That is what gives the game its thrill
guess When you have him like that it is
simple matter to drop him tail first into the
waiting sack"
DR.. Ditmars is a strong, heavily built man
with a quick eye and movement Agility
and steady nerves, he says, are the principal
in handling wild creatures
whether they be monkeys reptiles.