822 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



LARGEST MOOSE HEAD: SPREAD 76 INCHES. 

 Mackay Collection. 



lias given me Jumbo's exact standing ht-iglit. 

 In tlie year 1883 jNIr. Gilfort was a performer 

 in the Barnum Show, in which there was also a 

 "pole-jumper" named Elder. The chief stage 

 proj)erty of the jumper was the long, straight 

 pole with which he did his leaping. 



While the show was at Madison Square Gar- 

 den, \ew York, Mr. Gilfort and his colleagues 

 decided that they would ascertain the actual 

 height of Jumbo. In the course of his free 

 exercises between acts, the pole-jumper casually 

 leaped to the side of Jumbo, and carelessly stood 

 his pole up close beside the animal. Mr. Gil- 

 fort, being quite ready, carefully noted the 

 point on the pole tliat corresponded with Jum- 

 bo's highest point at the shoulders ; and when 

 measured it proved to be ten feet nine inches. 



W. T. H. 



ARTIFICIAL SNAKE DENS. 



IN an effort to enliven the interior of the Rep- 

 tile House, we are making a trial of the 

 modeling and painting of panoramic back- 

 grounds in several of the serpent cages. With 



this exjjeriment we have several ideas in view. 

 The cold and blank walls of the cage are thrown 

 into perspective, a certain amount of atmosphere 

 of the wilds is created, and it is possible to con- 

 vey a hint of the character of ground frequented 

 by species of importance. 



Thus far our experiments have been limited 

 to the cages for the northern or timber rat- 

 tlesnakes and the copperhead snakes, which 

 species are the only two poisonous reptiles in- 

 habiting the northeastern portion of the United 

 States. The scenes represent the country along 

 the highlands of the Hudson River, where both 

 of these species of reptiles are to be found in 

 generous numbers. 



A ledge of rock affords the rattlesnakes a 

 chance to exercise, and leading into this ledge 

 are various crevices which terminate with a 

 typical den. This is a compartment two feet 

 long by one and one-half feet wide and about 

 a foot high. It contains a bed of dry leaves, 

 and affords the snakes a chance to hide. The 

 copperheads are provided in like manner. 

 While at first we were in doubt as to the possi- 

 bility of the greater number of both species of 



