SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. 73 



Thanks to their enterprise, our collection of Southern water- 

 snakes is particularly fine. 



In the care of a collection of reptiles, one of the most difficult 

 tasks is the supplying of acceptable food. Aside from the mat- 

 ter of cost, there are many times when the men of the reptile 

 department are taxed to the limit of their ingenuity to obtain 

 a sufficient supply of the right kinds of food. Not long since, 

 it was necessary to kill a number of young rattlesnakes that were 

 born in the Reptile House because of the impossibility of secur- 

 ing enough mice with which to feed them. 



It should be stated that the birds and quadrupeds used are 

 killed before being ofifered as food. Reptiles do not require live 

 food, but in order to swallow an animal satisfactorily, it is best 

 that it be ofifered while warm, and before rigor mortis has set 

 in. 



The following memorandum has been compiled by Mr. Dit- 

 mars and Mr. Snyder to show the quantities of certain kinds of 

 reptilian food used during the past year : 



389 mice. 408 frogs. 



1,410 rats. 26,900 live fish. 



1,273 English sparrows. 55 lbs. earthworms. 



366 rabbits. 18,000 meal worms. 



531 pigeons. 122 large pumpkins. 



232 chickens. 2,266 lbs. green vegetables 



812 toads. (grass not counted). 



At the close of the year the state of the reptilian collections on 

 hand was as follows : 



Order. Species, Specimens. 



Crocodilia 2 31 



Chelonia 24 119 



Lacertilia 15 75 



Ophidia 44 296 



85 521 



Batrachians 13 78 



Totals 98 599 



