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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



In habit the Massasauga is shy and retiring, 

 almost never lying out in the open. Its com- 

 paratively small size, somber coloration, and 

 general sluggishness render it inconspicuous. 



During the latter part of Jul}' and the early 

 part of August. 1912, I succeeded in finding the 

 three specimens which now are in the Reptile 

 House of the Zoological Park. It must not be 

 imagined, however, that search could be made 

 every day. On the contrary, the season was 

 so cold and rainy that there was scarcely one 

 week of good hunting weather. The first speci- 

 men was discovered coiled up under a poison-ivy 

 vine, at the end of a sluice, in a public road. 

 In appearance it resembled a huge, peculiarly- 

 colored toad, and made no movement when near- 

 ly stepped on. Not seeing what it was, half- 

 petulantly I kicked the creature, when it fell 

 down into the vine and then into a small puddle 

 of water. It sounded its rattle, but even while 

 being noosed and caught it did not strike. 



For one day only could a guide be secured, 

 so that I could get out into the swamp proper. 

 Two Massasaugas were discovered, after an 

 hour's hunt, coiled up within a few feet of each 

 other, among some bushes. The first one seen 

 (the larger of the three), fought viciously; but 

 it was soon pinned down with a forked stick, its 

 neck was seized, and it was then easily secured. 

 The other was so sluggish that I put my foot 

 on its coils, and seized it by the neck. During 

 the entire process of its capture the snake di'i 

 not strike, or even rattle. 



Few bites and no deaths from this snake wen; 

 reported by the farmers in the vicinity ; but 

 many farmers keep as an antidote a bottle of 

 whiskey, which in some cases requires replen- 

 ishing with suspicious frequency. 



Older residents assured me that the snake is 

 much less common than formerly, when its range 

 extended over the entire northern part of the 

 county. Its disappearance is due probably to 

 ceaseless slaughter, and to the draining of the 

 swamps. That it still is fairly common may be 

 judged from the fact that the killing of a dozen 

 snakes in an area of perhaps a hundred acres 

 was reported within the space of two weeks' 

 time. One of these snakes had sixteen rattles, 

 and two had ten. Six or eight was a common 

 number. The whole region is abundantly sup- 

 plied with reptile life, milk snakes, ribbon 

 snakes, garter snakes, water snakes, etc., being 

 of frequent occurrence. As much of the swamp 

 has little value for tillage purposes, and as the 

 timber is small and comparatively worthless, the 

 Massasauga. though in diminishing numbers, 

 will probably continue to be found in this region 

 for some time. 



MOUNTAIN SHEEP RAM IN AUGUST 

 Photo, by C. Rungius 



SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE FORM OF 

 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 



By Carl Rungius. 



EVERY artist who undertakes to paint 

 big game must consider the seasonal 

 changes that may or may not take place 

 in the form of his model. 



In color and pelage the animal must con- 

 form with the season of the landscape he 

 chooses, otherwise ridiculous errors may arise. 

 For example, a summer moose or a spring calf 

 may be placed in a fall or winter landscape; 

 or we may see an elk with growing antlers 

 eimong falling leaves. 



THE SAME RAM IN OCTOBER 

 Photo, by C. Rungius 



