The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-05-15
REPTILES own
SIXTH SENSE
Famous Zoo Curator Says
Snakes Are Endowed With
Startling Intelligence.
POSSESS VERY KEEN EYESIGHT
Distinguish Sound by Their Tongues
and Scales-Sense Of Taste Very
Acute-TeIls Of Lizard That
Walks on Water.

i New YOrk.-When next you meet
snake In the woods or fields do not
as you leap nimbly out of reach, Civ
way to thoughts Of lOathing and con
tempt. Snakes are extremely usefu
members of society-even the poison
Gus ones-and they are endowed will
far more intelligence than they ge
credit for, according to Raymond L
Ditmars, curator for reptiles at the
| BRONX zoo.
Also, Mr. Ditmars told 60 or 20 mer
and women, members Of the Reptile
Study society, at the sixth annual
dinner of the organization, that. snakes
might even have a sixth sense, an
for human beings have to be content
with only five.
There Is a possibility that snakes
are far superior to any superstition re-
garding their attainments," said Mr..
Ditmars. Though their ears have
deteriorated, we know that they hear
quite well. They are sensitive to sound
on their tongues and on the scales on
their bodies. Their eyesight is wonder
fully keen, especially for moving OBJ
jects. They have marvellous sense OF
taste and of smell.
Investigate Pit Vipers.
Science is now investigating the
various species of pit vipers for proof
of another snakish sense that as yet
we know nothing about. A pit viper,
you know, has strange organ in the
skull, deep pit which is lined with
microscopic nerves all Joining main
nerve that goes straight to the brain.
Science has not yet fathomed the use
of this pit, 1t may be that snakes
are actually superior to man with
sixth sense we can't even gauge, for
we do not have it."
The dinner at which Mr.. Ditmars
made this assertion was held at the
Cafe Boulevard. The Average person
who attended the dinner would get
something Of shock to find the guests
passing around two or three-foot
Snakes in punches and longer fellows
singly, handling the reptiles as though
they were interesting curios or relics.
While these snakes, which, Of course,
are all harmless, were crawling around
the necks and shoulders Of men and
women, member of the society,
Arthur H. Gillian, brought out bag.
He got wide space despite the gen
eral craning Of necks, for n that bag
were rattlers and rattlers are rattlers
even to the enthusiasts of the Reptile
Study society.
81 wound tho
cord from the bag kissing, buzzing
sound filled the room. Nevertheless,
Mr.. Rather was left loose on the floor,
O forked stick pinning his neck before
he could wriggle an inch. Then Gil
lam took him by the scruff of the
neck (if snakes have scruffs) as
child picks up a kitten. The venemous
reptile held thus was passed around
for inspection.
A "cotton mOuthed' mOccas1n was
then put on display Another snake
that received great deal OF attention,
being allowed to recline on the speak
er's table at the start of the dinner,
was an eight-foOt boa constructor.
Boas it was said, make great pets
and are absolutely harmless, SO long
as they are not too big. Then play
full squeeze might crush the ribs Of a
man or woman, as an inquisitive child
brushes a beetle.
Lizard Walks on Water.
Professor e. r. Dunn Of Smith Col
lege told of experiences with snakes In !
Central America and Mexico.
"At a water hole he said, I'VE saw
a two or three-foot lizard that stood |
upright when it saw us and ran to the
water. Without pausing it kept right on
running and crossed the water hole on
top of the water. l hardly expect any
of YOU to believe this, but it is true
The lizard had webbed feet that carried
II over the water at top speed. OF
course. he couldn't stop or turn around
On the water, but must keep going
ahead
Edward f. Bigelow, editor Of Guide
10 Nature, described snakes as the
sweetest. loveliest things in creation
The purpose and object OF the Rep
lie Study society, as set forth In tnelr
is to educate everyone
about the life histories OF
.entiles-snakes, crocodiles. lizards,
urtles and tortoises, and amphibians
frogs. toads and salamanders." The
society aims to ''benefit mankind and
hese animals by substituting intelii-
rent consideration and kindness Tor
gnorant dread and atrocious cruelty
1t was said by members at the dinner
hat the fear Of snakes was not in
;tinctive, as generally believed, but
sns inculcated In children by scared
,rownups.