The Copperhead Snake 



An Interview with Raymond Lee Ditmars, 

 Curator of Reptiles, New York 

 Zoological Park. 



Gayne T. K. Norton. 



"So you want to know about the copperhead?" 



Mr. Raymond Lee Ditmars, curator of reptiles in the New York 

 Zoological Park, turned from his very business-like-looking desk 

 and faced the writer, a twinkle in his eye. Mr. Ditmars is not a 

 big man though he is strong and energetic, with keen eyes that see 

 everything and a hand shake that is sincere ; to meet him is to like 

 him, and to hear him talk of snakes is a privilege, though he is not 

 at all the sort of man one would picture as a snake hunter and fan- 

 cier. His office, with its card indexes, letter files and stenographers 

 reminds one more of a sanctum of an executive in a downtown 

 skyscraper than the den of a naturalist opening onto a large room 

 in which is exhibited probably the largest collection of snakes 

 there is. 



"Well, the copperhead snake is a good fellow to let alone; he is 

 unsociable and his venom is deadly. They thrive in this part of 

 the country and everyone, especially if they are in the open very 

 much, should know something about this serpent. Their habitat 

 is a large one ; the eastern and central portions of the United States 

 generally, from Massachusetts to the northern portions of Florida ; 

 westward to Illinois, and in the extreme south to the Rio Grande 

 in Texas. The snakes seem to think the Palisades of the Hudson 

 an ideal spot, suited to them in every way, and they are there by 

 the score. I am watching that country constantly to prevent 

 them, if I can, from forming into colonies and increasing too rap- 

 idly. Their presence there is a menace to the campers who, year 

 after year, are increasing in numbers, as the Park Commission opens 

 up the Park. New Yorkers a s a rule do not realize this and go 

 on in blissful ignorance sleeping around and tramping about the 

 woods, literally with their lives in their hands. I really cannot 

 understand why there have not been more accidents than have 

 been reported, for I know from personal experience that the snakes 

 are there. 



"As the copperhead is the only dangerous reptile in this imme- 

 diate vicinity his habits should be studied, his paths avoided and 



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