SUMMARY:
Clippings report Miss L. E. Cheesman’s 20,000-mile insect-collecting expedition across the South Seas and discuss insect migration via Pacific trade winds. Another article describes a capricious tree hyrax at the London Zoo. Further pieces announce Miss Joan Procter taking over as curator of reptiles at the Zoo, highlighting her skill with snakes and crocodiles.
CONTENT:
The Daily Mail
TUESDAY,
WOMAN'S INSECT
HUNT.
20,000 MILES' JOURNEY
TO SOUTH SEAS.
A journey of more than 20,000 miles is
being undertaken by the London Zoo's
Curator of Insects, Miss L. E. Cheesman,
to see if some interesting problems can
be solved by following the great circle of
the Pacific trade winds.
She is one of a party of eight zoolo-
gists who are going to the South Seas in
the Scientific Expeditionary Research
Association's yacht St. George. To Miss
Cheesman the route of the ship is
especially valuable. Look at a wind-map
of steady winds which flow to the north-
west from Ecuador and the correspond-
ing return sweep to South America
across the southern portion of the
Pacific.
The cruise of the St. George.
It is clear, as Miss Cheesman points
out, that insects must migrate down
these great wind-paths, blowing to lee-
ward from one island to the next. Those
winged emigrants who are lucky enough
to make port often find themselves in
enormously differing surroundings, and
have to adapt themselves to the new con-
ditions. How have they succeeded, and
what physical changes have these winged
emigrants undergone?
The answer to these riddles may pro-
vide some interesting facts. Creatures
now regarded as totally different varie-
ties, sub-species, and species, may prove
to be old friends who have had to make
the best of new surroundings by chang-
ing their bodies.
Jaws and digestive arrangements, for
example, might change in the course of
many insect generations to make the
best of new food.
Miss Cheesman has a most happy
genius for handling even the most
"shuddersome" insects. She picks up
poisonous bird-eating spiders, maintain-
ing that they are intelligent enough not
to injure a well-wisher.
L. G. M.
TIMES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13,
TREE HYRAX AT THE
ZOO.
A CAPRICIOUS PET.
Hyraxes, rock-rabbits, or damans, described
as a "feeble folk, although exceeding wise,"
are known to have great spirit and un-
expected powers of defence. The inner toe on
each hind foot is provided with a claw, but
this is used only in the animal's toilet, never
as a weapon of offence, and the other toes
on both fore and hind limbs have flattened,
almost hoof-like, nails. The teeth are plainly
adapted for gnawing, and the general appear-
ance of the animal is most inoffensive. They
are very alert, and generally dart away when
disturbed, but if they cannot retreat, they
will stamp on the ground, bristle their fur,
and steadily advance with an air of resolute
ferocity that puts to flight animals much
larger than themselves. If the enemy comes
nearer they are able to give a sharp and
powerful bite.
But the few persons who have had the
pleasure of possessing one of the smaller and
gentler tree-hyraxes have had nothing but
praise for their intelligence, gentleness, and
affection. They are shy, and will not readily
take to strangers, but have been allowed
complete freedom in a house, following their
owners from room to room, climbing over the
furniture without clumsy breakages, sleeping
on beds, and showing taste for such un-
wanted luxuries as hot tea or wine-and-water.
One such tree-hyrax, taken as a very young
animal in Nigeria, and kept for more than
two years as a private pet, was brought to
the London Zoo last week, as its owner could
no longer keep it, on account of a change
of residence. It appeared to make friends
quickly with one of the officers, settled down
in his room, explored the bookshelves, took
food from his hands, and climbed freely over
his arms and shoulders. All seemed well, and
it was to be transferred in the afternoon to
another private house.
But the door of the room was opened by
a clerk bringing some papers, and the tree-
hyrax jumped down from the lap on which
it was reposing and trotted along the floor
and drove the intruder back. The temporary
owner followed it, stooped down to pick it
up, when the little animal suddenly behaved
like a cat defending her kittens, leaped up
at his face, drawing blood from his cheek, and
then, in a series of rapid attacks, biting him
severely on the legs and hands, hissing vio-
lently. Nothing could be done with the little
fury, until, when its first rage was exhausted,
it was deftly captured in an overturned waste-
paper basket, which was secured by some
heavy books placed on it. The hyrax
appeared to settle down, and was certainly
not in the least alarmed; presently it took
some dainties from a hand passed under the
edge of the basket. But when it was released
again it returned to the attack, and there
was nothing for it but to take it to one of
the large compartments of the Old Insect
House. There, for the present, it has settled
down on amiable terms with some marmosets,
responds when called by name, but resolutely
declines to make friends.
THE DAILY EXPRESS. NOVEMBER 1, 1923,
WOMAN ZOO RULER.
NEW CURATOR OF REPTILES
"TAKES OVER" TO-DAY.
Miss Joan Procter, who was recently
appointed curator of reptiles at the Zoo,
officially takes over her new duties to-
day. She is the first woman to under-
take such work.
"We welcome her," said a Zoo keeper
yesterday. "We all know what fine
work Miss Procter has done in the rep-
tile department of the National History
Museum. She knows more about snakes
and reptiles than any other woman in
the world."
Miss Procter has a special instinct for
the handling of poisonous snakes. She
has not the slightest dread of any kind
of reptile.
SNAKE KEEPER.
Lady Takes Up Novel
Duties at Zoo.
Miss Joan Procter, the newly-
appointed curator of reptiles at the
London Zoo, took over her duties
to-day.
This is the first time a woman has
undertaken such work, but Miss Procter
has a special aptitude for the handling
of snakes and alligators.
"One of my principal duties," Miss
Procter, who is a very retiring young
lady, was persuaded to tell an interviewer
to-day, "will be to look after the health
of the inmates of the reptile house. All
the new arrivals have to be examined.
"Sickness is quite common among the
reptiles, and it is chiefly caused by
parasites. The snakes are very subject
to diseases of the mouth, and when
treating the poisonous varieties one has
to be very careful not to be bitten."
"In the reptile house to-day one could
almost detect a stir among the specimens
as if in excitement over the arrival of
the new mistress. One of the crocodiles
was observed to move his head twice in
fifteen minutes, which betokens unusual
animation in such undemonstrative
creatures."
