The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-09
MILK PORPOEE?
EXPERT STUMPED;
KEY WEST PLAN
WHY NOT D1ssEcT poR.
PoIsE GLAND?" WILLIAMS
ASKS; THE CITIZEN TAKEN
THROUGH SNAKE FARM

"Who can milk porpoise?" is
the problem over which three
Florida natural scientists ponder.
A northern university ordered
a pint of porpoise milk for re-
search work from the Marine
Studios at St. Augustine.
Milton Bacon decided the task
was beyond him. He took his
problem tc Ross Allen, director
of the Florida Reptile Institute
at Silver Springs. Mr.. Allen
''milks" poisonous snakes every
week for their venom which is
used in research.
But Mr.. Allen said no.
"A porpoise's milk supply, he
explained, lis hidden in small, in
accessible pockets exactly the re-
verse to cows udder, and to
date about the only creature able
to reach this supply is the young
porpoise. And the only reason
ne can do it is because of his
long and especially equipped
snout".
The Citizen reporter asked the
question of Harold Williams,
partner of MIR. Allen, and who is
in charge of the Tropical Reptile
Institute of Key West. Now,
I'm no expert on PROPOSES, Mr..
Williams said, 'but ! would think
that the mammal should be kill
cd and the milk gland dissected
out and sens whole 70 the tlniver-
sity desiring il. However, ] don't
know if this would be practical"
Iguanas Coniented
Williams then showed The Citi-
zen the amazing group of rep
tiles ne had at the Institute. CO.
ing over TO one cage the reporter
nearly jumped a mile when AL
heck" seemed to break loose just
under his legs. William grabbed
him, or this story would never
have been written. Calming his
fears, Williams then pointed out
that the noise was occasioned only
by group of horny, scaly drag
on" iguanas from South Ameri-
ca, which were only walking
away" from the spot. The iguan-
as live in Key West in the open
air and are not affected by cold
weather. Similarly exhibited
reptiles in Miami must be kept
artificially heated or they will
die. The iguanas. or giant liz
ards. shed their tails and grow
others even as the ordinary liz
ard. They feed on fruit.
The little water snakes of the
lower Kys. which residents have
often feared 4FnotSasins. but
which are rcallyFhakmless, is tie
only ''sea serpenps Williams
said. A rare chicken snake is in
the collection and many of the
small rat-snakes which residents
here have named chicken snakes.
Glaring balefully out from an
other cage is half-tamed orient
al snake. a python. with long,
heavy coils for construction.
Taking a white rat out of a
breeding cage. Williams threw il
in the cage with a group of moe
casins and rattleSnakes. The
dumb. little critter would do
nothing less than 60 up and smell
each snake. However, the wea-
ther was too cool and the snakes
would not feed. Dropping a wa
ter moccaSip before a king snake,
the king popped il head first into
his mouth in the twinkling OF an
eye. 20
Catching Raiflers
Williams then caught quite q
few rattlers swiftly in the open
cage. You've GOT to do this fast
and you've got TO LEI 60 OF them
fast. Williams has been hand
ling snakes since childhood. by
the way. If ! can get some time
off I'm going snake hunting very
shortly. Want 70 come alongg
It's a loita fun.
~Weeeeel. yes. we concluded
rather doubtfully. We wouldn't
60 unless he let US ride piggy
back al the way. IF you do like
the Seminole Indians. walk with
your eyes on where your feet are
stepping rather than al around
the forest. you'd be al right
Williams said.