NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 179 



is not, however, a "connecting link" between the lizards 

 and the serpents. 



Our well-known Gila Monster, (pronounced He-la.) (Helo- 

 derma suspectum), is a stupid, slow-moving creature from the 

 southwestern deserts, thick-set and stumpy in body, and it 

 has the appearance of being covered all over with dark- 

 brown-black, and yellow beads, such as Indians use in their 

 bead industry. Its bite is sufficiently venomous that it in- 

 flicts a painful wound, but it is not necessarily fatal. 



The Chameleon of the Old World, (Chamaeleo vulgaris), 

 because of its color phases and its remarkable form, is truly 

 a great "curiosity"; but it should not be confused with our 

 so-called American Chameleon, which belongs to another 

 Family, and is also less interesting. 



THE SERPENTS. 



The Order of Serpents, (Ophidia). — The large glazed 

 cases along the northern side of the main hall of the Reptile 

 House are devoted to the larger serpents, while the smaller 

 species are provided for along the south wall, and in the 

 adjoining room. One serious difficulty in the management of 

 a collection of living serpents lies in the face that often the 

 most valuable specimens are so nervous and shy in their 

 feeding habits it is impossible to cage several together. 



Out of the many species of serpents exhibited in the Rep- 

 tile House, ten are chosen as fairly representing the prin- 

 cipal groups. 



The Regal Python, (Python reticulatus), here represented 

 by a fine specimen, 22 feet in length, weighing 170 pounds, 

 is the best representative of the rock pythons of Asia and 

 Africa. The island of Borneo is its center of distribution. 

 None of the constrictors is venomous, but their crushing 

 power is almost beyond belief. 



The Rock Python, (Python sebae), of Africa, is a light- 

 colored species with a very small head, and is frequently 

 seen in the hands and around the necks of snake-charmers. 



The Anaconda, (Eunectes murinus), is one of the largest 

 constrictors of tropical America, and is noted for its aquatic 

 habits. It is a handsome serpent, being of a rich green 

 color, marked with large black spots. 



The Black Snake, (Bascanium constrictor), a common spe- 

 cies in the eastern United States, is probably the highest 



