Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
SNAKES AND FOLKS
GREET EACH OTHER
Opening of Reptile House at
Zoo Attended by Distin-
guiShed Throng.

It's hard to say who got the most
enjoyment out of the formal opening
of the new reptile house at the Zoo
last night-the crowd of persons promi-
nent in civic, social and Official circles
or the crowd of wrigglers prominent in
the snake, alligator and lizard world in
side the cages.
Among those on the outside looking
in were scientists from all parts of the
United States, including Dr. w. Reid
Blair, director Of the New York Zoo
logical Park; D. j. Harkins, director of
the Boston Geological Park; George p.
Vierheller, director of the st. Louis
Geological Park; c. Emerson Brown,
| director of the Philadelphia Geological
Park. and Raymond l.. Ditmars, curator
OF reptiles at the New York ZOO.
Among those on the inside looking
| reptile world, numbers of them new
70 the Washington zoo-going public.
Enjoyment Is Mutual.
With the possible exception Of the
Texas rattlesnake, which saw a man
in top hat and tried TO commit suicide.
the formal opening of the reptile house
was enjoyed from both sides of the
cages.
Weird little lizards and glass-eyed
pythons gaZed with some animation
| upon a tittering throng of women in
evening frocks and men in more or less
formal black and white.
An alligator padded out of his palm
| trimmed pool and thrust dripping snout
against the. glass, fairly FACILITATING
with the excitement of the occasion,
Down the corridor a way, Is bull
! snakes tied themselves into a knot. II
| the keep-rs had to unravel them, so
| much the worse for the keepers.
Only an iguana from the Galapagos
Islands, which looked like a paleolithic
monster in miniature, was bored with
the affair. He crawled over and stood
like school kid with his head in the
corner. Perhaps, keeper said, he was
eating lettuce.
The Zoo officials had issued 1000 in
vitations to Congress members, diplo-
mats, scientists, department officials
and the like-and every invitation
seemed to have been accepted. Those
who accepted had brought uncles, aunts,
cousins, grandchildren. and would the
punch hold out? The guests, sur
rounded by the worlds finest collection
OF snakes, drank lemonade punch, and
liked 1t.
Band Provides Music.
With this refreshment the visitors
strolled the corridors TO the tune of a
military band. Outside the United
States Park Police, reinforced from the
District department, had brisk work
keeping order amid the arrival and de-
parture of hundreds of motor cars
The Texas rattlesnake survived with
battered nose and perhaps a fracture
OF his spinal column" When some one
waved silk hat at him he went ma
! tive, forgot the plate glass and struck,
hard and like the release of a steel
spring.
Beaten back by the glass, he braced
| his body against the rocks of his ma
Ve-habitat cage and, with head drawn
back like poised spearhesd and raCtles
whirring, he threatened all corners for
| the rest OF the evening.
One Of the main attractions, a l4-foot
KING cobra. most dangerous and aggres-
siVe of 10 species of deadly cobra, folded
, up Ike fiat tire and refused to look
sinister. His Oriental composure was
proof against the curiosity of the crowd
! which may or may not have been due to
/ the TACT that he was shedding his skin.
The snake was brought here from the
Bronx Zoo. where 1t had been kept I'M
| til an appropriate space could be pro-
vlded for it.