TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 77 



The king- cobra arrived in September and is over eleven feet 

 in length, possibly the largest specimen of this formidable and 

 exceptionally interesting reptile that ever has reached the 

 United States. Arriving in a smooth, teakwood case, it had been 

 unable to shed its skin and was encased in a brittle integument. 

 A warm bath removed the skin from the body, but considerable 

 difficulty was experienced in removing the skin over the head, the 

 presence of which rendered this valuable specimen absolutely 

 blind. By covering it with a large net, on an iron ring, we 

 finally entered the cage and with surgical tweezers, operated 

 through the mesh of the net, removing the head covering. This 

 serpent is now in wonderful condition and has attracted great in- 

 terest. With the king cobra, came cases containing three speci- 

 mens of the smaller Indian cobra, the first we have received in 

 fourteen years, when an individual arrived at the Park. The 

 latter specimen is still in thriving condition. 



CENSUS OF REPTILES. 



January 1, 1922. 



Species Specimens 



Crocodilia (Alligators and Crocodiles) .... 4 37 



Chelonia (Turtles and Tortoises) 19 153 



Lacertilia (Lizards) 9 37 



Ophidia (Serpents) 42 180 



Amphibians (Frogs, Salamanders, etc.) ... 8 55 



Total 73 465 



SUMMARY OF COLLECTIONS. 



A census of the animals in the Zoological Park, taken Janu- 

 ary 1, 1922, is as follows: 



Species Specimens 



Mammals 185 623 



Birds 750 2,174 



Reptiles and Amphibians 73 465 



Total 1,008 3,262 



