a 
February 9, 1894. 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
+* Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. Vhe writer’s name is 
in all cases required as a proof of good faith. 
On request in advance, one hundred copies of the number containing his communi- 
cation will be furnished free to any correspondent. 
The Editor will be glad to publish any queries consonant with the character of the 
journal, 
Cats Hunting Snakes. 
Iv was a novel idea to the writer, that of our domestic 
cat appearing in the capacity of a serpent-killer; but as 
two independent accounts have recently come to his 
knowledge, from competent observers, this note is sent to 
Science, partly for its interest and partly in the hope of 
eliciting further evidence. 
A family living in southern New Jersey have a cat, not 
large or powerful, but very lithe and active, that has been 
in the habit of going off to the woods and returning with 
dead snakes of different species, up to three or four feet 
in length. After dragging it home, she would proceed to 
eat the snake and was often interrupted and the prey taken 
from her by members of the family, who were horrified at 
the proceeding. On one occasion, a violent flurry among 
the hens was noticed, and it was found to be due to the 
approach of a black snake, fully a yard long. ‘The cat 
had reached the spot, however, before the family, and 
her modus operand: was witnessed. She attacked the snake 
by repeatedly springing upon it, and endeavoring to 
seize it with her teeth, immediately behind the head. 
After a few such assaults, the cat killed it, and in due 
time proceeded to eat it, as usual, although it was then 
removed. 
On relating this incident in a company of scientific 
friends it was generally regarded as novel ; but one gentle- 
man described a precisely similar action witnessed by him 
in Harlem, N.Y. A disturbance was observed in the rear 
garden, and the large family cat was found making just 
SCIENCE. 83 
such attacks upon a garter-snake between two and three 
feet long. The snake was partly protected under a dense 
clump of rose bushes, and the cat had difficulty in seizing 
it, but kept springing at the neck, as in the other case. 
The gentleman at once interfered, and dispatched the 
reptile with a stick. But it would seem from these in- 
stances that snake hunting isa habit with some cats. Is 
it so with many? Perhaps some readers of Scvence can 
help us to judge how far it is familiar. 
D. 5S. Martin. 
The American Box Tortoise. 
PERMIT me to call the attention of those interested in 
zoblogy to the North American box tortoise or Terrapene 
(Cistudo). In working over the material so far collected 
we notice no mention of material from Georgia, Ten- 
nessee, Alabama, Kentucky, the Dakotas, New Mexico or 
western Texas. Neither are specimens reported from 
Mexico excepting Mexico City. Specimens are vaguely 
reported to have been found in Canada, but no specimens 
seem to be preserved and no authentic records are known. 
It is commonly supposed that the Zvrrapene (Cistudo) does 
not exist west of the Rockies. If any person has evidence 
to the contrary we would like to know it. We would re- 
quest all who can give us aid on any of these points to 
write us. If possible we would like to receive specimens 
from any locality whatever. The comparatively fixed 
habitation of this genus renders a large collection includ- 
ing many localities highly desirable. Persons who may 
have any of these specimens on hand, but do not care to 
part with them, would confer a great favor by lending 
them. Favors rendered in this way would be fully ap- 
preciated and remembered. All packages or communi- 
cations should be addressed to undersigned, Walker 
Museum, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. 
Bi. Tavior: 
= EXCHANGES. 
[Free of charge to all, if of satisfactory character. 
Address, N. D. C. Hodges, 874 Broadway, New York.] 
ANTED.—A young man to canvass for advertise- 
ments for Sczence. The usual commission of thirty 
WORKERS. 
interested in archeology. 
IVING near the famous ‘‘ Serpent Mound,” 
County, Ohio. I have had opportunity to make a 
collection of pre-historic relics. 
g Write me. 
Elmville, Highland County, Ohio. 
per cent will be paid. Apply in person at Scrence Office, 
Adams 874 Broadway, New York. 
I will sell same to any one 
(WALID honor eecweroin © ; : 
Memon Caner, oO onor graduate in clence amd Tiles phy 
desires any suitable work in science, of the nature 
of teaching preferred. Address, E. A. Beckett, Trinity 
aes EXCHANGE.—Herbarium specimens. 
H. P. Chandler, Beaver Dam, Wisc. 
College, Toronto, Ontario, 
Address, 
W ANTED.—Theory of the F eth, a Hutton. Prin- 
ciples of Geology, by Lyell. Manual of Geology 
HORSFORD’S ACID PHOSPHATE 
is recommended by physicians of all) ing mitosis. 
nervous energy, in all cases where | fctorly. 
the nervous system has been reduced | versity, lowa City, Towa. 
7 ARVYOKINETIC FIGURES IN 
TISSUES.—Since the publication of my Prelim-| by Carl Vogt. Etudes sur le Métamorphisme, Ly Daubrée 
inary Notice in Sczenzce for Dec. 1, 1893, many parties — 
have written me asking for permanent preparations show- \ ANTED.—Second-h eel enews on osteology, em 
To these parties I have sent slides, and I / 
2 e . now offer to all who desire them slides showing mitotic | stating condition and cash price. 
schools, for restoring brain force Or | figuresin nuclei of embryo kitten. : rds’ 
? 2 | objective is necessary to make out the figures satis- | Alto, California. 
Send 60 cents in stamps. 
| satisfactory, return it, and I will return the money. I do V 
| not care to exchange slides. Frank S. Aby, State Uni- 
MAMMALIAN | by Phillips. Lehrbuch derG eolgie und Petrefacenagde: 
bryo'ogy, and comparative anatomy. Send list, 
P. : 
Can offer a few good 
A good immersion | sets of birds’ eggs if desired. R. C. McGregor, Palo 
If the slide is not — - 
ANTED.—A copy of Chapman's Flora of the 
Southern United States. I have on hand for sale 
or exchange sets of the lichens of this vicinity. List 
furnished on application. Address, C. F. Maxwell, Box 
below the normal standard by over- 
work, as found in lawyers, teachers, 
students and brain-workers generally. 
OR SALE.—A small collection of bird skins, con- | 127, Dublin, Tex. 
sisting of 135 specimens of New England species, SS — 
most of which are in good condition and all have full Wee De Bee of persons smu aaeadl 0 in ar- 
data. Nearly all were collected in the Connecticut valley 
in Massachusetts. Price, $ 
3022 Bifeh Avenue, Pittsburgh, Penna. 
cheology. Copies of the new archzologic journal in 
exchange for lists of collectors. A colle 
valuable objects, the results of my nine 
Address, H. L. Clark, tion of 10,000 
s’ exploration 
. Warren 
Descriptive pamphlet free on application to | 
EF OR Sy ALE.—Price $150, cost originally between $300 | K. Moorehead, Waterloo, India ana. 
and $yoo, a microscope and following accessories : 
Acme (No. 2), stand and case lost, $75 ; Crouch, one-fifth | W J ANTED.—Vol. B ls o f thes Ste we ard 
collar adjustment and objective, $25; Tollcs, four-tenths 
in the Mississippi Valley, for sale. Price 
r ar erside 
Preferred in parts. F. A. Lucas, 
Nat. Hist. 
U.S. National Museum, Washington, 1). C. 
Rumford Chemical Works, ditto, $45; Volles amplifier, $12; Baush and Lamb, half | 
| solid eye piece, $8; Baush and Lamb, acromatic con- | 
Providence, R.I. | dense 8; Hartnock Polarizer, $30; turn-table, $6 | = = ————— 
Hartnock, camera lucida, $20. D. T. ‘Marshall, Metuchen. | 
GEO sLISH & Co., of No. 64 East rath Street, 
Beware of Substitutes and Imitations. Nee 
ee —~ = New announce that they have added to 
chzology. 
O EXCHANGE.—Works on entomology, 
| and palaeontology for works on Indians and ar- | more choice specimens than during any similar period in 
H. Justin Roddy, 
TK, 
botany | their stock of minerals, during the past six weeks, 
their history. 
marked the pric 
In order to make quick sales they have 
ery low, and as a further temptation 
Millersville, Pa. 
FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS. 
151 Broadway, New York. 
OR SALE.—A Zertmayer new model U. S. Army | to customers to fo 
Hospital monocular stand, cost $110. 
the hard times, they have decided 
to allow a discount-of ten per cent, on all minerals 
sold during the month of February. 
H. C. Wells, 
