REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 45 



life; for example in the star tortoise the original "shells" of the specimens 

 are used, while the head, neck and legs are restored iii wax. The mounting 

 not only brings out the principal features of the species exhibited, but in 

 many instances illustrates also some distinctive habit of the animals; for 



instance the common newt, one of the salamanders, is represented by a 



series of five life-size casts showing the process of shedding the skin; Picker- 

 ing's hyla or the "spring peeper" is shown with vocal sacs inflated; tie 

 poisonous bushmaster is represented with its eggs, and so on. 



The classification of these animals is shown in the upright cases; the 

 groups in the center of the hall represent various reptiles as they appeal- in 

 their natural haunts. They include the tuberculated iguana, the water moc- 

 casin, the diamond-backed rattlesnake, the Texas rattlesnake, the copper- 

 head, the Gila monster, the pine snake, the box tortoise and the common 

 painted turtle. 



One of the most interesting of the groups is a jungle scene in India 



showing a water monitor, which is the largest of living lizards, 

 Cobra Group . . _, ... . _ . .. 



the poisonous Kussell s viper and the deadly spectacled cobra, 



the last with hood distended and body poised ready to strike. The cobra is 

 said to be the cause of a large proportion of the 20,000 deaths which annu- 

 ally occur in India from snake bite. Examine carefully the group of the 



copperhead snake or "red-eye," one of the two species of 

 s k C poisonous snakes to be found in the vicinity of New York 



and also the group contrasting the harmless water snake with 

 the poisonous water moccasin of southern cypress swamps. Two groups 

 are devoted to rattlesnakes, which are easily recognized by the string of rat- 

 tles at the end of the tail, by means of which they give warning before they 

 strike. There are comparatively few species of poisonous snakes in the 

 United States, about sixteen in all, comprising rattlesnakes, the moccasin, 

 copperhead and two kinds of coral snake. All other species are harmless and 

 in spite of the almost universal prejudice against them, are a very useful 

 ally of man since they live chiefly on rats, mice and insects injurious to crops. 

 Entering the darkened gallery nearby, we find a series of four large 

 groups which show what can be done in reproducing reptiles and amphibians 

 in wax, making them seem alive and in action. The groups reproduce 

 accurately also the natural haunts of the animals and with a beauty of com- 

 position, color and lighting which gives them decided art value. As to 

 educational value, the reptile groups give to the children of New York City 

 (nearly a million in number) opportunities which they might not otherwise 

 have to see "the country," to get acquainted with animals in which they 

 are alw r ays peculiarly interested, and to learn more about them in a half 

 hour's observation than they could discover in years of study in the field — 

 thus forming the basis for both interest and trained observation when op- 

 portunity for rural life may come to them later. 



