262 Naturalist at Large 



astic supporters of our idea. From high to low, not only- 

 Pop, as my daughters call him, but everyone else con- 

 nected with the Fruit Company has always been cordially- 

 helpful in developing any scientific project which came 

 to their attention, and I felt pleased and proud to be able 

 to repay some of the favors which I have received at their 

 hands. I knew that the Snake Farm would be a tourist at- 

 traction. Many ships were entering or leaving the port of 

 Tela, which at that time was producing vast quantities of 

 fruit, but there were no attractions at that port to amuse 

 tourists while the ships were being loaded. 



The snake pen, built of galvanized iron for a non- 

 climbable wall and shaded by an enormous manaca palm- 

 thatched roof, was of unfailing interest, particularly as we 

 had arranged to have Douglas Marsh or Raymond Stadel- 

 man milk the snakes on days when tourist ships were in 

 port. The natives proved efficient collectors when they 

 once knew what it was all about, and a number of them 

 owe their lives to serum made with the help of the snakes 

 they caught. The fer-de-lance was very common about 

 Tela. The snake is bold and quick to strike and, though 

 active only by night, has a way of hiding by day under 

 the banana trash, dead leaves, and old stalks, which nat- 

 urally abound in any plantation. The barefooted natives 

 ran a considerable risk. 



We gathered enough venom to last for many years and 

 then abandoned the Snake Farm. Now, however, with 

 the increase of miUtary activity in the Canal Zone, the 

 demand for antivenin has suddenly stepped up and I should 

 not be at all surprised if we had to start collecting snakes 

 again. 



