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SUMMARY:
A letter dated 10 September 1923 informs Pathé Frères Cinema Ltd. that Miss Procter cannot comply with their request to film her with her snakes. It is signed by C.J.B. from the Department of Zoology (Reptiles).

CONTENT:
T/RE. PICTORIAL DEPT.

Pathé Frères Cinema Ltd.
103-109, Wardour Street,
W.1.- 10.9.23.

Dear Sir,

Miss Procter instructs me to say that
she is unable to comply with your request to film her
with her snakes.

Yours faithfully,

C.J.B.

Dept. Zoology (Reptiles).

J.B.P/C.J.B.

SUMMARY:
Newspaper clippings report that Miss Joan Proctor was appointed curator of the reptile house at the London Zoological Gardens. The articles describe her expertise, training under Dr. Boulenger, election as F.Z.S. and F.L.S., her refusal of an offer from the New York Zoological Society, and her keeping of snakes at home.

CONTENT:
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
AUGUST 1923

SNAKE EXPERT OF LONDON
Miss Joan Proctor, appointed curator of
reptiles in London Zoological Gardens. She
is one of the world's greatest authorities on
the subject and recently refused an offer
from the New York Zoological Society to
come to America
Kadel & Herbert photo

Extract from
NEW YORK TRIBUNE
NEW YORK.
5 AUG 1923

Reptiles Put
Under Care of
Woman Expert

Snakes Are Special Pets of
Miss Joan Proctor, Who
Has Been Appointed as a
Curator in London Zoo

LONDON,
Snakes and crocodiles are not, per-
haps, the most pleasant creatures with
which to live, but Miss Joan Proctor
evidently thinks otherwise. This
young Englishwoman has just been
appointed curator of the reptile house
at the London Zoological Gardens,
where she will have entire charge of
the cobras, the pythons, the alligators
and all the other reptiles.
Miss Proctor's grandfather was a
famous entomologist, so possibly her
interest and aptitude in the subject
are inherited. It certainly looks as
though she is going to become as well
known as he was, for already she is
looked on by zoologists as one of the
greatest of snake experts.
When in her very early teens she
happened to visit the chief of the rep-
tile department at the South Kensing-
ton Natural History Museum and so
astonished him by her knowledge of
ophiology—she had kept snakes and
lizards as pets since her tenth birth-
day—that he offered to train her in
the subject. Accordingly, as soon as
she left school she became Dr. Bou-
lenger's assistant, this at the age of
eighteen, and when he resigned she
was appointed to his post. Last year
the New York Zoological Society of-
fered her a job, but she would not
leave the Kensington Museum. Now,
of course, she will have to give up her
work there.
The young expert came into real
contact with the Zoological Society at
the age of nineteen when she read her
first paper, on pit snakes, before them.
A year later they made her F. Z. S.
At the beginning of July she gained
another distinction by being elected
F. L. S., Fellow of the Linnaean Society,
one of the foremost scientific organi-
zations in the world.
Being surrounded by snakes during
her attendance at the zoo apparently
is not enough for Miss Proctor, and
she keeps six Brazilian snakes in a
glass cage in her drawing-room. These
were sent her as a gift. Noted scien-
tists in South America and South
Africa have frequently sent rare and
deadly reptiles to England, knowing
her interest, and most of these she
keeps at her own home.

SUMMARY:
Magazine clipping profiling Miss Joan B. Procter’s appointment as Curator of Reptiles at the London Zoological Gardens, noting E. G. Boulenger’s move to direct the new aquarium and her prior work at the British Museum of Natural History. It also discusses the appeal and design of aquariums, referencing examples at Monaco and New York.

CONTENT:
THE
WORLD'S
WORK
SEPTEMBER 1923
MEN AND WOMEN OF
TO-DAY

A CURATOR OF REPTILES
ON the appointment of Miss Joan B.
Procter, F.Z.S., F.L.S., to be a
Curator of Reptiles at the London
Zoological Gardens the funny men,
from "Mr. Punch" downwards, had a great
day. There were any number of weak jokes
about the modern snake-charmer; and "Mr.
Punch" opined that the opportunity had at
last arrived for Woman to be revenged upon
the Serpent.
But, seriously, her assumption of this office
adds another to the many strange occupations
which are now open to, and have lately been
taken up by, women of to-day. Miss Procter
succeeded to her position because Mr. E. G.
Boulenger, who has been Curator of Reptiles,
has been appointed Director of the new
aquarium. For some time to come he will
exercise a general supervision over reptiles;
but he has of late been fully occupied by the
construction of the new aquarium; and when
the tanks are ready for occupation it is
anticipated that his new duties will leave
him little opportunity for work elsewhere.
Mr. Boulenger's family has long been asso-
ciated with Natural History, for he is a son
of Dr. G. A. Boulenger, who was for many
years Chief of the Department of Reptiles,
Batrachians and Fishes at the British Museum
of Natural History. It is due to his son that
the reptile house at the Zoo has been so
greatly improved, and that it contains one of
the finest collections in the world.
But, to go back to our subject, Miss Procter
will assume her duties in the late autumn.
She was educated at St. Paul's School for
Girls; and since 1916 has worked in the
Reptile Department at the British Museum
of Natural History first as a voluntary
assistant to Dr. Boulenger, and, since his
retirement, in charge of the department.
There is no doubt whatever of her ability
and efficiency. She has written a large
number of papers on the anatomy, classifica-
tion and habits of reptiles and batrachians;
and has for a long time kept a private collec-
tion of living snakes and batrachians.
Although she is still working in the Reptile
Department in the Museum of Natural History
as its chief, she has also been assisting at the
Zoo in designing rockwork for the aquarium
tanks, which promise soon to be such an
attractive feature of London life.
No one familiar with the exceedingly
beautiful aquariums in the Oceanographical
Museum at Monaco or on the Battery at
New York can fail to realise the possibilities
of these institutions. Those who have not
seen them cannot imagine the beauty of
properly designed and decorated tanks set
in windows through which the light plays
not only upon gorgeously coloured fishes
and marine monsters in all shades of red and
grey, gold and silver, but also upon masses
of coral branches, deep-sea weeds and grasses
and shells of all shapes and sizes, both with

MISS JOAN B. PROCTER
325

SUMMARY:
An excerpt notes Miss Procter’s plans for arranging submarine scenes, followed by 'A City-Builder' describing honours awarded to Sir Charles Wilson of Leeds, with mentions of ceremonies and gifts associated with the city and university. Figures referenced include Eva Bland, E. F. L. Wood, Lord Halifax, Professor Gilbert Murray, and Sir Michael Sadler, with locations such as the Town Hall of Leeds, Westminster, and Temple Newsam.

CONTENT:
THE
WORLD'S
WORK
SEPTEMBER 1923
326 MEN AND WOMEN

and without their original occupants. In the
arrangement of these submarine scenes Miss
Procter will find ample scope for combining
artistic feminine taste with scientific knowledge.

Eva Bland.

A CITY-BUILDER

Many honours of high distinction have
recently been awarded to Sir Charles Wilson,
J.P., F.S.A.A., the new Member of Parliament
for Leeds. First, the city to whose welfare
and well-being he has given so many selfless
years made him a Freeman by unanimous
vote of the Council and acclaim of the people,
then the University conferred upon him the
Degree of LL.D., probably the first accountant
to be admitted into this select academic
fellowship. Next, he was granted a Knighthood
in the King's Birthday List, and now
he has been returned to Westminster. The
scene in the Town Hall of Leeds when the
freedom of the city and the University degree
were conferred, impressed me by its beauty
and dignity. I think it is Professor Gilbert
Murray who, translating one of his beloved
Greek authors, gives us the line "The apple
tree, the singing and the gold." The words
perfectly portray a festival of rich delight, of
proud gladness in the heart and colour in the
setting. Truly it was a scene memorable for
its manifold solemnity and significance. It
was the City giving honour to one who has
helped to make it honourable.

Major the Right Hon. E. F. L. Wood,
M.A., M.P., President of the Board of Education,
was associated with the then Alderman
Wilson (a Major, too, if I were to use his
military title) in receiving the highest honours
which it is in the power of City and University
to give. Major Wood, the son of the venerable
Lord Halifax, who was proudly present
at the Ceremony of Conferment, recently
transferred his beautiful home and estate,
Temple Newsam, the Templestowe of Ivanhoe,
to the City of Leeds on generously sacrificial
terms, and as a gift he made over a treasure-
trove of furniture and art. It was Alderman
Wilson who carried the delicately intricate
negotiations to successful issue. Nothing
could have been more appropriate than the
comradeship of these two men in honour on
so eventful and so noble a day.

Through the eloquent lips of Sir Michael
Sadler, the Vice-Chancellor, the University
paid homage to Alderman Wilson's "disinterested
public service." In a choice perora-

SUMMARY:
International newspaper clippings from 1923 report Miss Joan Procter's appointment as Curator of Reptiles at the London Zoological Gardens, noting her expertise, early career, and work on the new aquarium. Articles also mention related appointments of E. G. Boulenger and her training under Dr. C. A. Boulenger.

CONTENT:
Telephone No. Central 7989.
International Press-Cutting Bureau
14, New Bridge Street, London, E.C. 4.

Extract from
NEW YORK WORLD
NEW YORK.
19 August. 1923.
Her Specialty Is Snakes.
MISS JOAN PROCTOR, a London
girl, has a job which few women,
and few men for that matter,
would care to hold except in the most dis-
tinct of purely honorary capacities. She
has just been elected curator of reptiles
at the famous London Zoo, after refusing
a cabled offer of a similar position at our
own Bronx Zoo at a much higher salary.
Miss Proctor is only 25 years old, but
is recognized as one of the greatest liv-
ing authorities on serpents. Her reputa-
tion indeed is already worldwide among
naturalists.

Joan Proctor.
She will not only have charge of all the
reptiles in the great collection in London,
but she will also have complete charge of
the new aquarium and its denizens. In
fact she has been responsible for the de-
signing and construction of this zoolog-
ical watering place.

Miss Proctor's grandfather was a fa-
mous entomologist, and she herself has
kept lizards and snakes as pets since her
tenth birthday. When in her very early
'teens she astonished the chief of the
reptile department of the South Kensing-
ton Museum by her knowledge of ophi-
ology and when she was only 18 she
succeeded to his post on his resignation.
At 19 she read her first paper before the
Zoological Society and later was elected
a fellow of the Linnæan Society, one of
the foremost scientific organizations in
the world.

Apparently failing to see enough of
snakes at the Zoo she keeps six Brazilian
reptiles in a glass cage in her drawing
room. They were sent to her as a gift,
for noted scientists in South America
and South Africa, knowing her interest,
frequently send deadly serpents to Eng-
land for her, and she keeps most of them
in her own home.

International Press-Cutting Bureau.
Extract from
NEW YORK HERALD.
New York, U.S.A.
Date 29 JUL 1923
LONDON NAMES WOMAN
CURATOR OF REPTILES
Miss Joan Procter One of
World's Leading Experts.

Special Cable to The New York Herald.
Copyright, 1923, by The New York Herald.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, July 28.
Miss Joan Procter, regarded by zoolo-
gists as one of the greatest snake ex-
perts in the world, has been appointed
curator of reptiles for the London Zoo.
It is the first time that a woman has
been appointed to a place of such re-
sponsibility at the Zoo. Miss Procter,
although only 25 years old, has for
some time shown conspicuous ability in
her chosen profession. Her grandfather
was a great entomologist.

Her mother, speaking of Miss Proc-
ter's work, said: "At 10 my daughter
had her first snake as a pet. She also
kept many lizards and some of them
were remarkably tame. One day she
received a large crocodile as a present,
and we took it to Dr. C. A. Boulenger,
famous chief of the department of rep-
tiles at the Natural History Museum
in South Kensington. He was aston-
ished at my daughter's knowledge of
ophiology and offered to train her in
the subject when she left St. Paul's
School. She became his assistant when
she was 15 years old, and when he re-
signed she was appointed to his post."
Miss Procter read her first paper on
snakes before the Zoological Society at
the age of 19. She was a fellow of the
society at 20 and was elected a fellow
of the Linnaean Society, one of the fore-
most scientific organizations in the
world only a fortnight ago. Last year,
it is said, she was offered a post by
the New York Zoological Society.

Extract from
THE FRIEND
BLOEMFONTIEN.
Date Sep 1st

Miss Joan Procter, an English
girl, aged 25, has been appointed
curator of reptiles at the London
Zoological Gardens. Her grand-
father was a famous entomo-
logist. Miss Procter had her
first pet snake when she was
aged 10. One day she received a
crocodile as a present, and took
it to Dr. Boulenger, head of the
department for reptiles in the
National History Museum, South
Kensington. He was astonished
at her knowledge, and offered to
train her. She became Dr.
Boulenger's assistant when 15,
and is now one of the greatest
snake experts in the world, and
is a Fellow of the Zoological and
Linnean Societies.

Extract from
CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN
Charlottetown, Canada.
Date
WOMAN CURATOR
OF ZOO REPTILES

LONDON, Aug. 15.—Mr. E. G.
Boulenger, at present Curator of
Reptiles at the Zoological Gardens,
has been appointed Director of the
new Aquarium. He will continue to
exercise a general supervision over
the reptiles, but for some time he
has been very fully occupied with
superintending the construction of
the aquarium, and when the tanks
are ready for occupation it is an-
ticipated that his time will be al-
most completely engaged by his
new duties. Mr. Boulenger has been
Curator at the Zoo, F.R.S., for long
chief of the Department of Reptiles,
Batrachians and Fishes at the Brit-
ish Museum of Natural History.
Since Mr. Boulenger has been Cur-
ator at the Zoo the reptile-house
has been greatly improved, and
the collection made one of the finest
in the world. During the war he
served in France with the balloons.

Miss Joan B. Proctor, F.Z.S., F.L.S.,
has been appointed Curator of
Reptiles, and will assume her duties
in late autumn. She was educated
at St. Paul's School for Girls, and
since 1916 has worked in the Rep-
tile Department at the British Mu-
seum, first as voluntary assistant
to Dr. Boulenger and, since his re-
tirement, in charge. She is the au-
thor of a large number of papers on
the anatomy, classification, and
habits of reptiles and batrachians,
and for many years has kept a pri-
vate collection of living snakes and
batrachians. At present Miss Proc-
tor is still carrying on the work of
the Reptile Department at the Mu-
seum, but is also engaged in de-
signing the rockwork for the aqu-
arium tanks at the Zoo.

MADRAS MAIL.
MADRAS.
14 AUG 1923
THE WAY OF THE
WORLD

Miss Joan B. Proctor, F.Z.S., F.L.S., has
been appointed Curator
Woman Zoo of Reptiles at the London
Curator Zoological Gardens, and
will assume her duties in
the Autumn. She was educated at St.
Paul's School for Girls, and since 1916 has
worked in the Reptile Department at the
British Museum, first as voluntary assistant
to Dr. Boulenger, and, since his retire-
ment, in charge. She is the author of a
large number of papers on the anatomy,
classification, and habits of reptiles and
batrachians, and for many years has kept a
private collection of living snakes and batra-
chians. At present Miss Proctor is still
carrying on the work of the Reptile
Department at the Museum, but is also
engaged in designing the rockwork for the
aquarium tanks at the Zoo.

SUMMARY:
Newspaper header showing THE AGE with MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA and an empty Date line.

CONTENT:
THE AGE
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Date .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

SUMMARY:
Clippings report Miss Cheesman’s forthcoming 20,000-mile Pacific research voyage and her work at the London Zoo, alongside coverage of Miss Joan Proctor’s appointment as curator of reptiles. Additional articles highlight British women pioneers in various technical and scientific professions.

CONTENT:
Cutting from the Glasgow Herald
Address of Publication
Issue dated. 20/10/25

WOMEN'S TOPICS

INSECT LOVERS
Woman Curator's 20,000-Mile Voyage
Women In America are much interested in
the fact that Miss Cheesman, the woman
Curator of Insects at the London Zoo, sails
on October 23 in the yacht St. George on a
journey of more than 20,000 miles through
the South Seas and the Pacific Ocean.

She is the only woman member of a party
of eight zoologists sent out by the Scientific
Expeditionary Research Association, and will
be absent many months. Up to the time of
writing Miss Cheesman has successfully
eluded press photographers, one of whom lay
in wait for her for three hours. She will
not talk about herself, but I knew long ago
of her post at the Zoo, which she has held
for ten years, and of her lectures in the
Insect House, which are so entrancing to
young people. She hopes not only to bring
back some interesting specimens but to solve
some problems of value of entomology by
following the great circle of the Pacific trade
winds. If you look at a wind map of the
world you will note the flow of steady winds
to the north-west from Ecuador and the
corresponding return sweep to South America
across the southern portion of the Pacific.

Winged Emigrants
Miss Cheesman points out that Insects
must migrate down these great wind-paths,
blowing to leeward from one island, to the
next. Those winged emigrants who are
lucky enough to make port often find them-
selves in enormously different surroundings,
and have to adapt themselves to the new
conditions. How have they succeeded, and
what physical changes have these winged
emigrants undergone?

Miss Cheesman has a most happy genius
for handling even the most fearsome insects.
She picks up poisonous bird-eating spiders,
maintaining that they are intelligent enough
not to injure a friend. And somehow she is
right, and seldom gets bitten.

Handling Snakes Without Gloves
In this way she is like her new colleague
at the Zoo, Miss Joan Proctor, who was
recently appointed curator of reptiles, and
who will handle horrible snakes without
gloves and without a shudder. American
women find this marvellous, as, indeed, no
does the ordinary woman, but I may state
for the first time in Great Britain that Miss
Proctor resisted the attraction of a high
salary in New York in order to remain in
England.

Had I to decide between caring for snakes
or insects, I know which I would choose,
though the average woman would rather
study insects in theory than in practice.
We have in England even one or two women
"Insect artists," who specialise in
meticulous pen-and-ink drawings of the
structure of insects, mainly for bookplate
illustration in scientific works. Sometimes
these are coloured, sometimes not, but the
illustration has to be scientifically correct,
and therefore must be done by one who is
an entomologist as well as an artist.

Cutting from the Daily Herald
Address of Publication
Issue dated 25.10.22.

THE FAMILY HERALD AND WEEKLY STAR,
MONTREAL, CANADA,
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1923.

BRITISH WOMEN
AS PIONEERS.

Engineers, Plantation
Manager and Diver.

RESEARCH CRUISE.

Are British women more or less enter-
prising than their American cousins?
As reported in the "Daily Chronicle"
recently, eight American women claim
to hold positions never before occupied
by members of their sex. Now a woman
correspondent names nine English-
women prominent in industry and the
professions, some of them pioneers.

Miss F. Wakefield, an Englishwoman
chiropractor, is the first and only woman
pioneer of this new science in London.
She is trained in a scientific method of
adjusting the cause of disease without
drugs or instruments, based on a cor-
rect knowledge of anatomy, and espe-
cially the nervous system.

Another Miss Wakefield, a mycolo-
gist, is in charge of the Mycological
Department at Kew (mycology is the
study of fungi). She had a similar posi-
tion in Barbados before coming to
London.

FIRST ELECTRICIAN.
The first woman electrical engineer to
set up her own business in Exeter less
than two years ago, Miss Margaret Part-
ridge, has now taken a partner, Miss
Lees, who is in charge of the London
office of M. Partridge and Co., recently
opened.

Miss Griff, another woman engineer,
who initiated the Stainless and Non-
Corrosive Metal Co., of Birmingham,
has also taken a partner, Miss Davis,
and runs a foundry.

Miss Margaret Naylor is the only
British woman diver, and is famed
for her intrepid operations at Tober-
mory Bay, where the Spanish trea-
sure galleon lies.

The only British woman who owns
and manages a cocoa-nut plantation is
Miss Hamill Smith, Tobago, near Trini-
dad.

A research journey through the
Pacific has been undertaken by Miss
Cheesman, curator of insects at the
London Zoo. Her colleague, Miss Proc-
tor, is curator of reptiles.

An out-of-the-way occupation has
been chosen by Miss Gertrude Rosen-
berg, who breeds butterflies for sale to
schoolboys and other collectors.

Expert On Snakes

Miss Joan Proctor, an English girl of 25,
has just been appointed curator of reptiles
at the London Zoological Gardens. She is
one of the best known experts on snakes
in the world.

SUMMARY:
Press clippings report Miss Joan Proctor’s appointment as curator of reptiles at the London Zoological Gardens, highlighting her expertise with snakes and her work at the British Museum and South Kensington’s Natural History Museum. Items include notices from Ottawa, the New York Tribune, and the Adelaide Register dated October 1923.

CONTENT:
OTTAWA
BOSSES SNAKES.
City (Ottawa)

Miss Joan Proctor, an English
girl of 25, has just been appointed
curator of reptiles at the London
Zoological Gardens. She is one of
the best known experts on snakes
in the world.

RULES SNAKES

JEAN PROCTOR.
(Kadri & Herbert Photo.)
This young woman has special-
ized in the study of reptiles and is
said to be able to handle snakes
which would be enraged at the
touch of the ordinary person and
show the resentment by a poison-
ous bite. Miss Proctor recently be-
came curator of reptiles at the Lon-
don Zoological gardens.

from the
Press of Publication
dated
Register
Adelaide
Oct 16-1923

CURATOR OF REPTILES AT THE LONDON "ZOO," MISS
JOAN PROCTOR, WITH A FRIEND.

Preserving reptile to the daily occupation of Miss Joan Proc-
tor, F.Z.S., F.L.S. In her spare time she studies their habits. One
of the greatest experts on snakes in her day, Miss Proctor has
worked since 1916 in the reptile department at the British
Museum—first as a voluntary assistant, and then as expert in
charge. She is the author of a large number of papers on the
anatomy, classification, and habits of reptiles and batrachians,
and owns a private collection of living specimens.

Cutting from the
Address of Publication
Issue dated
Register
Adelaide
Oct 11/23

Her Reptilian Family.
The second of the lady curators ap-
pointed by the Zoological Society, Miss
Joan Proctor, will take over her duties
in charge of the reptiles at Regent's Park
during the autumn. Miss Proctor has
plenty of practical experience of these
strange pets, for, apart from work which
she has fulfilled in the reptile department,
of the museum at South Kensington, she
has for several years kept a private collec-
tion of live snakes and batrachians. She
has designed the whole of the rockwork
for the new aquarium at the Zoo.

NEW YORK
TRIBUNE
Reptiles Put
Under Care of
Woman Expert

Snakes Are Special Pets of
Miss Joan Proctor, Who
Has Been Appointed as a
Curator in London Zoo

New York Trib. LONDON,
Snakes and crocodiles are not, per-
haps, the most pleasant creatures with
which to live, but Miss Joan Proctor
evidently thinks otherwise. This
young Englishwoman has just been
appointed curator of the reptile house
at the London Zoological Gardens,
where she will have entire charge of
the cobras, the pythons, the alligators
and all the other reptiles.
Miss Proctor's grandfather was a
famous entomologist, so possibly her
interest and aptitude in the subject
are inherited. It certainly looks as
though she is going to become as well
known as he was, for already she is
looked on by zoologists as one of the
greatest of snake experts.
When in her very early teens she
happened to visit the chief of the rep-
tile department at the South Kensing-
ton Natural History Museum and so
astonished him by her knowledge of
ophiology—she had kept snakes and
lizards as pets since her tenth birth-
day—that he offered to train her in
the subject. Accordingly, as soon as
she left school she became Dr. Bou-
lenger's assistant, this at the age of
eighteen, and when he resigned she
was appointed to his post. Last year
the New York Zoological Society of-
fered her a job, but she would not
leave the Kensington Museum. Now,
of course, she will have to give up her
work there.
The young expert came into real
contact with the zoological society at
the age of nineteen when she read her
first paper, on pit snakes, before them.
A year later they made her F. Z. S.
At the beginning of July she gained
another distinction by being elected
F. L. S., Fellow of the Linnean Society,
one of the foremost scientific organi-
zations in the world.
Being surrounded by snakes during
her attendance at the zoo apparently
is not enough for Miss Proctor, and
she keeps six Brazilian snakes in a
glass cage in her drawing-room. These
were sent her as a gift. Noted scien-
tists in South America and South
Africa have frequently sent rare and
deadly reptiles to England, knowing
her interest, and most of these she
keeps at her own home.

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."

SUMMARY:
Press clippings report Miss Joan Procter’s appointment as Curator of Reptiles at the London Zoo, her work caring for reptiles, and an appeal for ‘golden’ cockroaches to feed chameleons, followed by a note on a chameleon’s recovery. A brief Manchester Guardian reference dated 3 November 1927 also appears.

CONTENT:
Thursday, November 1, 1923.
THE EVENING STANDARD.
WOMAN GUARDIAN
OF REPTILES.
ANIMATION IN THE ZOO AT HER
ARRIVAL.
NURSING THE SICK.
Miss Joan Procter, the newly appointed
Curator of reptiles at the Zoo, took over
for duties there to-day.

This is the first time that a woman has under-
taken such work, but Miss Procter has a special
instinct for the handling of such unpleasant
things as poisonous snakes, snappy monitors, and
those miniature alligators that look almost harm-
less, but could bite off a careless finger without
much difficulty.

"One of my principal duties," Miss Procter
said to-day, "will be to
look after the health of
the inmates of the rep-
tile house. All the new
arrivals have to be
examined, and as a
general rule are put in
quarantine in the sana-
torium for some time,
among parrots, squir-
rels, or whatever new-
comers there may be,
until they are found
permanent quarters.

"There is no room
for them all in quaran-
tine, but we can deal
with the suspects.
What Snakes Suffer.
Miss Joan Procter.
"Sickness," Miss Procter went on, "is quite
common among the reptiles, and it is chiefly
caused by parasites. The snakes are very sub-
ject to diseases of the mouth, although we do
not quite know why. They get a sort of ulcera-
tion, and if not properly attended to they will
die. Our method of cure is to bathe them with
a disinfectant as strong as they can stand.

"When treating the poisonous varieties for
sickness one has naturally to be very careful
not to be bitten, and in the case of mouth disease
it is practically impossible to give them a wash.

"The keepers are expert at handling them
for the usual sores on the body, but if the mouth
had to be treated it would be necessary to hold
them in such a way that they would be almost
sure to bite."

In a visit to 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 the course of fifteen
minutes, which betokens unusual animation in
such undemonstrative creatures.

NOVEMBER 2. 1923.
FRIDAY, The Daily Mail
ZOO'S NEW WOMAN
CURATOR.
HUNT FOR THE "GOLDEN"
COCKROACH.
Miss Joan Procter, F.Z.S., F.L.S.,
took up her appointment yesterday as
Curator of Reptiles at the London Zoo-
logical Gardens.

In spite of her youth, Miss Procter is
a recognized authority in this branch of
science, and till now has been in charge
of the Reptile Department at the British
Museum of Natural History.

In the midst of "moving" troubles
yesterday one of her first anxieties may
be instanced as showing her attitude to
her new charges. "I have lost my
supply of golden cockroaches," she said,
"and I would be grateful if any of your
readers could tell me where they can be
found in any numbers."

These yellow or "golden" cock-
roaches are the finest food for many rare
reptiles, including chameleons. Miss
Procter was able to obtain them from
the basement of a certain public build-
ing until a catastrophic spring-cleaning
with limewash wiped out the whole
colony.

Chameleons, with their wonderful
"lashing" six-inch tongues, select
them as targets even should there be
only one cockroach among 50 blue-
bottles, and the best hope of nursing
such creatures through the coming win-
ter is to find the "golden cockroach"
at once.

Should anyone know of a colony of
these small yellow insects a post-card ad-
dressed to Curator of Reptiles, Zoo-
logical Society's Offices, Regent's Park,
N.W., would be much appreciated—
especially by the chameleons. The ordi-
nary black cockroach is too big, tough,
and indigestible as a diet.

the Manchester Guardian
Publication
3.11.27.

NOVEMBER 8, 1923.
THURSDAY, The Daily Mail
ZOO CHAMELEON
ENDS ITS FAST.
WILL TO LIVE RESTORED
BY NEW DIET.
The Zoo's Basilisk chameleon desires
to thank the Daily Mail reader who
saved his life by collecting and forward-
ing a tin of "golden" cockroaches.

Last Friday it was stated in these
columns that meal-worms and the big
black cockroaches had failed to tempt
the chameleon to go on living. Only the
small "golden" cockroach could save
him, but no supply of these insects had
been found.

It was quite a pathetic bedside scene
before the post brought the life-giving
insects. Showing evidences of his six
weeks' fast, the chameleon had scarcely
the strength to turn
black in the face
when the same old
mealworms were
offered at break-
fast-time. Billows
waves of yellow
mottled skin when
an ordinary mag-
got was served up
as an alternative.
He turned a shabby
green and began to squint. The
chameleon is the world's most gifted
squinter. His eyes work quite indepen-
A Chameleon.
dently of each other. One eye may
be seen riveted on the ceiling while the
other idly swivels round like the second
hand of a watch going the wrong way.
Then the golden cockroaches arrived.
He unpacked his elastic tongue with its
sticky tip, and slashed it out for a full
six inches. The first cockroach vanished.
In ten minutes 21 insects went the same
way.

This was "hearty" for a chameleon
in a decline, and no further bulletins will
be issued.
L. G. M.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS
BROUGHT ME ABOUT
THE WHEREABOUTS OF
GOLDEN ROACHES ALSO

Miss Joan Procter, F.Z.S., the
girl snake expert, has started
duty as curator of reptiles at the
London Zoo,