SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 149 



at the base of the head, and by means of an osteological prepara- 

 tion, as a guide, the junetion of the various bones was accurately 

 located, the diseased bone unhinged, liberated from the sur- 

 rounding muscular tissue, and pulled back through the opening. 

 Following the removal of the bone the infected center was cauter- 

 ized with formalin, the incision closed with very fine silk sutures 

 and the moist dressing replaced. 



The operation was in every way successful and the snake con- 

 tinues on exhibition. 



With the breeding of specimens, the Reptile Department has 

 been very successful. The following species of snakes have been 

 born and successfully reared in the Reptile House : Diamond- 

 Backed Rattlesnake, Banded Rattlesnake, Texas Rattlesnake, 

 Copperhead Snake, Water Moccasin, Blacksnake, Chicken 

 Snake, Bull Snake, four species of Water Snakes, Garter Snake, 

 Ribbon Snake, Dekay's Snake, Marcy's Garter Snake and Boa. 



In the Reptile House are two generations of Water Mocca- 

 sins that have been bred in captivity. The majority of the spe- 

 cies mentioned are viviparous snakes, bringing forth the young 

 alive. The eggs of the oviparous species when deposited were 

 simply placed in damp sand, and kept at the regular temperature 

 of the Reptile House. With few exceptions, these hatched within 

 periods of from six to eight weeks after being laid. Several 

 unique broods were brought forth by the viviparous snakes. One 

 of these consisted of 62 young from a large Banded Water Snake 

 (Natrix fasciata sipcdon), a family so numerous that it literally 

 overran the cage in a writhing mass of brightly colored bodies. 

 The other brood referred to was from a common Garter Snake 

 {Thamnophis sirfalis), numbering twenty-seven normal young, 

 three albinos, and a strange offspring with two perfectly devel- 

 oped heads. The former were perfectly white and translucent. 

 When held between a strong light and the eye, their internal or- 

 gans could be distinctly located, and the beating of their hearts 

 was visible. Their eyes were pink and brilliant. They fed read- 

 ily, but only lived for a few weeks. The two-headed individual 

 never fed. and lived only a few hours. The remainder of the 

 brood attained maturity. 



During the breeding of specimens in the Reptile House, sev- 

 eral observations relating to the growth of reptiles have been 

 made which are quite new. It has previously been the suppo- 

 sition that the growth of the Alligator was very slow. As an il- 

 lustration of this idea, the waiter quotes the following by Dr. 

 Hugh 'M. Smith, of the United States Fish Commission, in Pro- 



