“One specimen, about 18 inches in length, which had lain on the ground exposed to a summer sun for 48 hours, was brought to the museum, and left lying a day longer before it was placed in alcohol. The day following, desiring to 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 lacertina), 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.
SECTION IV.— THE INSECTS.
THE INSECT COLLECTION.[1]
A collection of insects was formed and placed on exhibition 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 season 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 pronounced 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 permanent feature of the Park.
GIANT CENTIPEDE.
There are so many possibilities in exhibiting living insects that it is difficult to select groups to feature for the summer. Our efforts were first directed toward exhibiting a series of the different insects that sing, and also a series of species injurious to the interests of the agriculturists, together with a number of the insects that prey upon the noxious species. The collection of singing insects was a marked success and will hereafter be continued each summer.