The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-06-06
REPTILES own
SIXTH SENSE.
Famous Zoo Curator Says
Snakes Are Endowed With
Startling Intelligence.
POSSESS VERY keen EYESIGHT
Distinguish Sound by Their Tongues
and ScaIes-Sense Of Taste Very
Acute-Tells of Lizard That
Walks on Water.

| "a. - .E-r-
New YOrk.-When next you meet
snake in the woods or fields do not,
as you leap nimbly out of reach, give
way to thoughts Of lOathing 'and con-
tempt Snakes are extremely useful
members Of sOciety-even the poison
Gus ones-and they are endowed with
far more intelligence than they get
credit for, according to Raymond L.
Ditmars, curator for reptiles at the
Broux Zoo.
Also, Mr.. Ditmars told go or 20 men
and women, members Of the Reptile
Study society, at the sixth annual
dinner Of the organization, that snakes
might even have g sixth sense, an
attribute that man cannot even gauge,
for human beings have to be content
with only five.
There is a possibility that snakes
garding their attainments," said Mr..
Ditmars. Though their ears have
deteriOrated, we know that they hear
quite we'll. They are sensitive to sound
Oh 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 Vpers.
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, a 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 a
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, a member Of the society,
Arthur II. Gillian, brought out bag.
He got a wide space despite the gen.
eral craning Of necks, for in that bag
were rattlers and rattlers are rattlers
even to the enthusiasts Of the Reptile
Study society.
AS Gillian cautiously unwound the
cord from the bag a Kissing, buzzing
sound filed the room. Nevertheless,
Mr.. Rather was left loose on the floor,
fOrked stick pinning his neck before
he could wriggle an inch. Then Gill
lam took him by the scruff Of the
neck (if snakes have scruffs) as a
child picks up a kitten. The venemous
reptile held thus was passed around
for inspection.
A cotton mOuthed" mOccasin was
! then put on display. Another snake
I that received a 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.
| bOdS, i was Sdlt, luohC SASoI PStS
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
| An, Moyia0
"At a water hole" he said, I'VE saw
two or three-fOOt lizard that stood
upright when lit saw us and ran to the
water. Without pausing it kept right on
running and crossed the water hole on
top of the water. 1 hardly expect any
of you to believe this, but it is true
The lizard had webbed feet that carried
1t 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
TO Nature, described snakes as the
sweetest, loveliest things in creation
The purpose and object Of the Rep
tile Study society, as set forth in theil
prospectus, is to educate "everyont
| everywhere about the life histories Of
reptiles-snakes, crOcOdiles, lizards
turtles and tortOises, and amphibian!
frogs, tOads and salamanders." Thu
society aims to benefit mankind ant
these animals by substituting intelli
gent consideration and kindness To-
ignorant dread and atrociOus cruelty
= 1t was said by members at the dinne
that the fear of snakes was not in
stinctive, as generally believed, blu
was fnculcated in children by scare'
grOwnupS.
10-Cent Bounty for Purcupines.
Annapolis Royal, n. S.-The lowl,
xnoro,,nino iS ON tho Ialn in Nov.