NEW ‘YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 179 
is not, however, a ‘ 
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. 
‘connecting link’’ between the lizards 
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 fact 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 
