FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 79 



hibition of representative species of small mammals, chiefly 

 rodents, destructive to agriculture. In this series were shown 

 the larger species of North American serpents whose feeding 

 habits make them of value to the agriculturist. This series is 

 to be changed in the spring of 1911 to the useful reptiles of 

 Europe. 



For some years the Reptile House cages have been filled to 

 their utmost capacity. To arrange the economic exhibit it was 

 necessary to attach shelves underneath the long iron tables 

 in the south portion of the main hall. Special cages were con- 

 structed to fit these shelves, with the result that we were enabled 

 to add thirty-two additional exhibition compartments for ser- 

 pents. This relieved some congestion, and rendered it possible 

 to give individual care to a certain number of species. The col- 

 lection of rodents included in this exhibition is steadily increas- 

 ing and may now be rated of some importance. It is described 

 in the Mammal Department section of this report. 



The general collection of reptiles has remained uniformly 

 strong and interesting. Among the more important purchases 

 the following are worthy of mention : 



Chelonians. — A series of Malayan fresh-water turtles ; ele- 

 phant tortoise from the Aldabra Islands; seven star tortoises, 

 from India ; four radiated tortoises, from Madagascar and two 

 Berlandier desert tortoises, from Texas. 



CrococUUans. — A broad-nosed crocodile, from Africa ; a Nile 

 crocodile; three South American caimans. 



Lizards. — A series of the lizards of Europe; desert lizards, 

 from Arizona and New Mexico; eight South American tegus; 

 two giant cyclodes, from Australia ; three African spiny lizards ; 

 Nile monitor and two Egyptian monitors. 



Serpents. — One South American bushmaster; one Malayan 

 green tree viper ; eleven Indian rat snakes ; one Indian tree 

 snake ; four long-nosed tree snakes, from Borneo ; one Australian 

 diamond snake ; one Australian carpet snake. 



Amphibians. — Thirty-three Surinam toads; a representative 

 series of frogs, toads and salamanders of Europe ; two specimens 

 of the blind Proteus from the Adelsberg Cave in Austria. 



Among the important donations of the past year were seven 

 Indian cobras, the gift of William H. Barbour. 



Of important events in the department, one of the most in- 

 teresting was the birth of seventeen Malayan tree vipers. These 

 leaf-green reptiles, with heart-shaped head and prehensile tail, 

 have been exhibited with the mother in a special cage with de- 

 scriptive label, and have attracted much attention. 



