NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 185 



note a few points of structure, I removed it from the alcohol 

 in which it had been completely submerged for at least 

 20 hours, and had no sooner placed in on the table than it 

 began to open its big mouth, vigorously sway its tail to and 

 fro, and give other undoubted signs of vitality." 



The Congo Snake, or Amphiuma, (Amphiuma means), is 

 a creature which closely resembles a thick-tailed snake. 

 A close examination, however, discloses a tiny pair of front 

 legs; and far back, well toward the end of the tail, a small 

 pair of hind legs appear. These are about as valuable to 

 the animal as the tiger's clavicle is to him. There are but 

 two species belonging to this strange genus, both of which 

 are found in the stagnant waters of our southeastern states. 

 Still lower than the amphiuma, is The Mud Eel, {Siren lacer- 

 tina), of the southeastern quarter of the United States, 

 which possesses small external gills, and only one pair of 

 legs, which are in front. 



The Menobranchus, or Mud Puppy, (Necturus maculatus), 

 possesses external gills and four legs, and inhabits many of 

 the rivers of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, the great lakes 

 and also the lakes of northern New York. It is often taken 

 in fisherman's nets. 



THE INSECT COLLECTION * 



A collection of insects was formed and placed on exhibi- 

 tion during the early summer of 1910. While this first 

 exhibit was not elaborate, it excited such interest that it 

 was decided to enlarge it, by taking advantage of the sea- 

 son which then was at its best for insect collecting. 



A series of long shelves has been built in the Pavilion 

 between the Small-Mammal House and the Ostrich House, 

 and thirty-five glass-fronted cages, together with a row of 

 aquaria for aquatic specimens, were installed. A number 

 of collecting trips were made into the country within a 

 radius of twenty-five miles of the city, with such marked 

 success, that by the middle of July the collection was pro- 

 nounced by a number of visitors to equal in interest any 

 exhibition of the kind heretofore attempted in this country, 

 or in Europe. In view of the marked interest created by 

 this display, the insect collection will hereafter be a perma- 

 nent feature of the Park. 



•This interesting collection was formed, installed and labeled by 

 Curator R. L. Ditmars, with the assistance of Mr. Charles Snyder and 

 other members of the Department of Reptiles. 



