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THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



FIG. 1— YOUNG OF PUFF ADDER 



(H. Platyrhinus). 



Photographed from life by Dr. Shufeldt. 



much likewise has been done, though 

 this enormous field for inquiry and in- 

 vestigation has, as yet, hardly been 

 touched upon at all. Collected and 

 digested facts obtained through such 

 studies cannot fail to greatly further 

 the biological science, and are very 

 important in many particulars. 



It occurs to me, that this is a mosi 

 interesting field for our young nature 

 workers to engage in, and the material 

 for it, at nearly all times of the year, 

 is at hand, and, for one, I hope to see 

 in future issues of our worthy maga- 

 zine, The Guide to Nature contribu- 

 tions devoted to the results of 

 such observations. Studies can be 

 made with respect to all living forms 

 of animals, whether vertebrate or in- 

 vertebrate, and can be carried from the 

 period of hatching or birth up until 

 such time as the individual in any 

 particular instance is fully adult. 



To illustrate my meaning by a single 

 example, for space will not admit of 

 more, I would say, that recently I have 

 been studying some adult and young 

 specimens of our more common Ameri- 

 can snakes. The majority of these 

 have been supplied me through the 

 courtesy of Mr. Edward S. Schmid, 

 the genial proprietor of the well known 

 animal emporium at 712 Twelfth 

 Street, Washington, D. C. 



Now doubtless many of the readers 

 of The Guide to Nature are more 



or less familiar with the common 

 hog-nosed snake of the Eastern States, 

 also known as the puff adder, from its 

 habit of swelling up and llattening out 

 its neck and fore part of its body when 

 angered or irritated in any manner. 

 Heterodon platyrhinus is the name by 

 which this harmless and interesting 

 snake is known to science, and a few 

 months ago Mr. Schmid loaned me, for 

 the purpose, of studying and photo- 

 graphing it, a most beautiful, living 

 specimen of the young of this species 

 (Fg. 1). It was in fine condition and 

 color, and by the use of a large vertical 

 camera at my study, I succeeded in 

 obtaining some excellent negatives of 

 it. One of these is shown in the cut 

 accompanying this article, and is of 

 the exact size of the specimen. It was 

 a very handsome little snake, of a pale, 

 whitish, cream color, elegantly spotted 

 and marked with patches of dark 

 brown and tan as shown in the cut. 



Those who are familiar with the hab- 

 its of the adult puff adder, are aware, 



FIG. 2— DR. R. W. SHUFELDT EXAMINING A 

 SNAKE IN HIS STUDY. 



