Author: Barry L. Armstrong

Publisher: Forgotten Books

Published: 2017-11-17

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 9780331248562

Excerpt from The Natural History of Mexican Rattlesnakes Beginning in November, 1966, studies on rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) and other pit Vipers were initiated at the Dallas Zoo which included techniques for maintenance and disease treatments, in conjunction with Observations on captive and wild populations. Maintenance techniques and disease treatments have been published in an earlier contribution. The results of our studies on the ecology and natural history of Mexican rattlesnakes are contained in the present account. Since numerous behavioral sequences were difficult to record in the field, many rattlesnakes were maintained in the laboratory. Over one hundred and twenty-five captive individuals, comprising over 50 taxa (including forms indigenous to the United States) were avail able for study. We have attempted to Show the value of a multifaceted ap proach to the study of a body of organisms by beginning with field Observations as a basis for understanding, followed by maintenance in the captive state whereupon specimens can be placed upon death in a systematic museum collection. This arrangement allows an investigator to examine various aspects of an animal's being by recording data which would be virtually impossible to record in the field. Further, this combined approach maximized our abili ties as one Of us is somewhat incompetent in the field and the other is an erratic animal keeper. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.