THE RATTLESNAKE LADY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12619, 2 December 1926, Page 9

THE RATTLESNAKE LADY

Mrs Olive Wiley, of Minnesota, is head of the Entomology Department of the University of Kansas, an unusual position for a women. She has also become known ns the rattlesnake lady, owing to the readiness with which 6ha will enter a cage of these reptiles, and allow them to come near her, or even coil in her lap. She is not, however, at all a snake-charmer. Her special interest in snake® came about in a curious way. When collecting various beetles (bugs, ns the Americans call tliem\ she tumbled into a cave, to find herself in a circle of reptiles, some of which she recognised to bo the most dangerous in tho world. Sho stood still with fear, and observed that they stood still whenever she did. From this incident she realised the fact that even the deadliest reptile (in her opinion) never strikes from malice, but only from fright. If one is oalm with him, he immediately loecs what she allude® to a® his "nervousness." As a consequence of this belief, sbo refused to Have # bet snakes deprived of their fangs, which is to the advantage of science. In her care, certain snake® have reared young families, these reptiles being of the kind that formerly refused to breed when in captivity. "They are nervous and irritable creatures," concedes Mrs Wiley, ' and placidly advises that they he kept away* from children. Other people, 6he believes, should get used to them, a verdict, however, that i® not likely to be endorsed in New Zealand.