Evening star., 1923-09-09


For loving pets there are few crea =
lures equal to sleek, blue -blooded
thoroughbred puffed adder.
They are affectionate, gentle with
children. and sanitary about the
house
This is the opinion of Charles East.
taNidermist at the National Museum
Eld enthusiastic student of local
sil1,:es. He is rearing one of these
reptiles and making a close study
of it's life and habits.
The puffed adder, while the most
innocent in character. is the most
fearSome in appearance of all District
snakes. 1t belongs to the same fam
lily as the deadly cobra and is close
relative of the copperhead, common
among the rocks along the Potomac
here. whose bite is almost certain
death. For the latter. according to
East. it is frequently mistaken.
When alarmed the snake Will swell
out to about twice its natural size.
shoot its slender, black tongue back
and forth. and hiss. 1t would be an
one were ignorant OF the fact that
it is harmless bluSterer, that il
never has been known to bite a
human being. that it has no poisonous
Graves only affection.
COntented as Kitten.
East has had his present pet, a
young fellow about two feet long.
for the past week. The snake seems
as contented as a kitten in its mas
ter's hands and when he strokes it.
1t rapidly is recovering from the
stage fright which it displayed at
first, when men gathered about it's
cage. When brought to the museum
it showed peculiar snake character
istic-that of playing dead. 1t would
first puff up and hiss. When this
did not drive away the audience 1t
would roll over on its back and lie
perfectly still.
It's single cage companion is a tiny
frog which, some day within the next
six or eight months, it probably will
eat. Just at present 1t is not hungry.
The frog. frightened almost to death
at first now is on rather friendly
terms with its eventual murdered and
hops about unconcernedly among the
twisting coils.
Mr.. East is hoping every morning
to see the frog gone. 1t will mean
that the snake has so far recovered
from the excitement caused by it's
capture and new surroundings that
it has become hungry again. 1t may
however. always refuse to eat and
finally. after six months or so, die
of starcation.
Mr.. East does not dare at present
to place d mouse in the cage. 1t
might bite the puffed adder and one
bite is likely to cause death. Snakes,
according to the taxidermist are deli
cate creatures. Wounds heal slowly
and always are likely to develop into
cancers. which are incurable. Some
day. if the adder thrives well on
fresh frog. a very small mouse may
be placed in the cage.
Feeding Chief Problem.
Feeding is the chief problem to be
solved in raising snakes as pets. Mr..
East says. They are likely to starve
10 death with food placed under their
noses night and day, for a reptile
cannot eat while he is nervous. In
his collection he has a baby milk
snake of the species which. accord
ing to the tradition of nearby Mary
land farmers, sucks the milk from
cows in the pastures. This is all
bosh, East says.
In the first place. the little reptile
would be scared to death of COW,
mouth is not adapted for sucking
milk 1t is most gentle in appear
ance. but at the same time the most
combative Of pets. Its love of fight
probably will save it's life.
East will solve the problem of get
ting something into it's stomach by
placing tiny bits Of meat on his fin
ger. Then he will egg the reptile on
10 fight. He hopes the snake, in
its enraged efforts to bite his hand.
will grab off some of the meat. If
1t doesn't there is little hope of saw
ing it's life in captivity. Its natural
food is flies and small insects, but
It is one of the few snakes ever
known to eat other than living meat.
In the next cage Is an infant black
snake. 1t VIII not eat meat OF any
kind but is = lover of eggs. In
few days Easi hopes to induce it to
cat some ant eggs. When it reaches
its normal growth of five to six feet
Il may devour a mouse or two. It's
favorite food probably will be hen
eggs.
East doesn't recommend black