Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-22
Curious Nature of Reptiles
Inspires Shutter Arrange
ment at National Zoo.
DEVICE DIVIDES PEN
INTO 2 DEPARTMENTS
Invention Will Make Possible
Showing of Largest Collection
Of Poisonous Species.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.


A glass cage in which cobras and
mambas. tropical snakes whose bite
means practically certain death, can be
kept in perfect safety, has been devised
at the National Geological Park
This takes advantage of the curiosity
Of these snakes. which is an especially
notable characteristic of the cobra.
This snake cannot resist investigating
any change in its surroundings. So the
cage Is divided into two compartments,
with small shutter in the partition,
operated from the outside.
AS soon as the shutter is opened, &C
cording to Dr. William NJ Mann, di-
rector of the Zoo. the cobras curiosity
will force him to dart through the hole.
Then the shutter can be closed and
the cage cleaned with IMMUNITY.
Hitherto there have not been many
poisonous snakes on exhibition in the
United States, and in recent years the
larger ZOOS have been refusing to pur-
chase them because Of the difficulty Of
| keeping their cages clean and the dan
ger Of fnjuring them in poking them
from one compartment to another.
Almost Devoid Of Memory.
Coupled with its curiosity the snake
is almost devoid of memory. and each
time the shutter is opened. it is believed,
the impulse to investigate will be as
strong as ever. The only snakes Of this
kind now at the Zoo are two African
splitting cobras, obtained by the Smith
sonian-Chrysler expedition four years
ago. and these have been fed entirely
from the outside of the cage.
The new cages will have plate-glass
half-inch thick which cannot posi-
bly, be broken. The glass will be chosen
to let through the right quality and
quantity of light to which the reptiles
are accustomed. By means of this de-
vice, DR.. Mann believes. it will be pos
siblc to show in the new reptile house
one of the largest collections of poison
Gus snakes in the world
During the past few days a dozen
copperheaos, captured in the vicinity
of Washington. have been presented to
the Zoo These are the worst of the
local venomous snakes and are still
quite frequent in rocky areas not far
from the city.
The large number captured, accord
! ing to DR.. Mann. does not mean that
! there is any increase in these snakes
and is probably due to the unusually
cool nights at this time of the year.
! This is the copperheads most active
season and ordinarily 1t would be very
wary and move like a flash. But the
cool weather renders them torpid and
when this condition overtakes them in
the open they are easily caught.
Pooling with copperhead. unless one
knows exactly how to proceed, DR..
Mann said, is dangerous business and
should not be attempted by amateur
collectors. The snake is likely to arouse
suddenly from his somnolent condition.
A1S0 q c0nSiiprahla Y1iIr1her 0f rattle
snakes are coming as gifts from all
parts of the country. These usually are
welcome additions to the Zoo collection
since they do not live well in captivity
! and must constantly be replaced. Some
thing may be done for the RATHER, DR..
Mann believes. by the manipulation Of
sunshine. Ordinarily the great diff
Guilty is to get them to eat. The food
| is live rabbit. but RATHER will Spurn
dozens of animals before he finally
swallows one. Sometimes it is neces-
sary to capture wild rabbit after q
RATHER has persistently refused those
raised in captivity. In some way the
snake seems to sense the difference.
Since the rattlers and copperheads
are not so active no special cages are
needed for them. They can be herded
safely with stick, operated from the
outside, from one compartment to an
other. Besides their bites are not so
dangerous and the Zoo has practically
certain antidotes for the poison.
Pinchot Lizards Arrive.
Yesterday the Zoos reptile collection
was increased by two more weird-look-
ing lizards from Clifford Pinchot. now
on collecting expedition to the Galap-
agos Islands. These are the Barring
ton Island iguanas, similar to those al
ready received from Mr.. Pinchot, but
representing different species.
DR.. Mann is building up the deer
and antelope collection with some rare
species. The latest addition is a pair
of harnessed antelope from West Africa.
These are small antelope. about 80
inches high. whose spots and stripes are
so arranged that they present the ap-
pearance of a red leather harness.
These animals are found only in the
densest brush country and are seldom
seen. even by the natives. They almost
never are found in captivity.
He also received a pair of axis deer
from the jungles of India. These are
peculiar because they never lose the
spots on the skin, which are seen on
the fawns Of all species, but disappear
when the animal grows up. In the same
shipment there was a Molucca deer
from the East Indies, unusual because
of its very large ears and its bushy
tail.
Among the new birds received were a
pair of African big-eared owls - the
"ears" being tufts Of feathers growing
from the sides of the head in the shape
of ears. Like most owls, they are al
most entirely nocturnal creatures and
remain drowsy and stupid during the
day.