Exhibition of Reptiles and Amphibians 77 



Extensive changes were made this year in the exhibitions 

 of reptiles and amphibians. The addition of two large cases, 

 one for Crocodiles and the other for Alligators 

 Exhibition and Caimans, necessitated the rearrangement of 

 the floor cases. The two large Crocodilians, 

 formerly stored on the fifth floor, were remodeled and placed 

 on exhibition. A splendid example of the Chinese Alligator 

 and an immature specimen of Caiman sclerops were added 

 to the Alligator case. 



An exhibit of reptiles and amphibians found within fifty 

 miles of New York City was inaugurated late in the season. 

 The case now includes twenty-nine specimens. This is only 

 a beginning. We hope to have the entire fauna represented 

 by the end of next year. In conjunction with this exhibit, 

 steps have been taken to prepare a handbook of the reptiles 

 and amphibians of our region. 



Among the noteworthy exhibits prepared during the year 

 was a small group of Ascaphus, the only discoglossid frog in 

 North America and perhaps the most primitive salientian in 

 the world. Ascaphus lives only at high altitudes among the 

 Olympics and certain other western mountains. A number 

 of specimens were sent alive to the museum by shipping 

 them in a device allowing water to drip continually upon 

 them. Not only did they arrive in good condition, but several 

 were kept alive in this manner for nearly five months while 

 very satisfactory studies were conducted upon them. 



Among the other specimens mounted or cast during the 

 year was a partially albinistic timber rattlesnake. Albinism 

 is uncommon in snakes, and extremely rare in rattlesnakes. 

 A handsomely colored western frog, Rana pretiosa, was cast 

 and colored by Mr. Stoll. Mr. Escherich devised a new way 

 of mounting the skins of lizards. The four splendid examples 

 of this work which have just been placed on exhibition augur 

 well for the future reptilian exhibits. 



Every effort was made to complete the work on all partly 

 mounted specimens, even though some of these would form 

 only a temporary exhibit. Thirty-three additional specimens 

 were placed on exhibition ; fourteen of these were batra- 

 chians, eight lizards, seven snakes, and four turtles. The 



