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VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN NUMBER 35 SALUTE TO SCOUTING Among February's celebrated anni­ Scouts who aspire to knowledge versaries la the birthday of Boy of amphibians and reptiles should Scouting. set out early to gain this award. Many of us acknowledge the debt The REPTILE STUDY pamphlet may be we owe to Scouting. Adult members found in the local school, or pub­ are encouraged to lend whatever lic, libraries in your community. aid they can to local Boy Scout It is ideal for high school-age troops/ explorer posts. Cub Packs beginners in herpetology. More and neighborhood or district Boy sophisticated students may employ Scout leaders. Adult members can it as a "refresher." Even well- do this most appropriately by the informed students may find in it coaching of scouts who may wish those facts which are assumed, by to obtain merit badges within our writers of the more advanced rep­ field of interest. These are tile texts, to be basic knowledge. "REPTILE STUDY" and - "ZOOLOGY" in Look over its contents. Brush up the Boy Scout program, and, for a on items where your background in­ Girl Scout, the "Reptile and Am­ formation may be on thin ice. phibian" badge. AN ELEMENTARY AND WELL-BALANCED A GOOD SUPPLEMENT TO YOUR LIBRARY COURSE IN HERPETOLOGY comes neat­ ON HERPETOLOGY is the "NATURAL ly packed in a sixty-page booklet HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN AMPHI­ with ample photographs, good il­ BIANS AND REPTILES" by Dr. James lustrations and readable text* A. Oliver, published by the D. The price, complete, is 35 centsC Van Nostrand Company, Inc. New We refer, of course, to one of a York (1955) available in public number of fine pamphlets in the libraries in larger communities. Scout Merit Badge pamphlet series. The one we have in mind is simply VHS ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO called "REPTILE STUDY". Author TAKE PART IN THE SCOUTING PROGRAM. of this valuable booklet is one of Adult leadership is always needed the nation's leading herpetolog­ in the community. Many times the ists -- Roger Conant -- Curator unavailability of adult counselors of Reptiles,•Philadelphia Zoolog­ in "REPTILE STUDY" or "ZOOLOGY" is ical Gardens, Philadelphia, Pa. enough to discourage a scout from further pursuit of his interest in The booklet can serve as a basic these fields. An interested scout minimum fund of knowledge for the goes to his Troop Leader and asks person who has a more-than-casual for the name of a "counselor." As interest in herpetology. * The it happens, all too frequently, an acquisition of this pamphlet, and examiner may not be listed. Check an understanding of its content with your local Scout Troopleaders is a goal which all younger VHS to see if there is a space for you members should set for themselves. in the position of M.B. counselor. - 1 - The VHS BULLETIN is a newsletter appearing at least six times a year. Circulation is about 300. Special issues are addressed to about 200 additional individuals -- science and biology instructors in colleges and secondary schools throughout Virginia. VIS is a non-profit, voluntary association of persons who are more than casually interested in the reptiles and amphibians of Virginia and of adjacent states. The Society's aims are both scientific and educational -- the collection and communication of accurate data on the Virginian herpetofauna. Membership dues are $1 a year. The VHS Bulletin is intended to help readers keep abreast of the latest information concerning Virginian herpetology. The editors invite comments and contributions to the end that the newsletter will continue to be effective and informative. f VKS Bulletin No. 35 Page two A SALUTE TO SCOOTING continued TO THOSE PERSONS ALREADY LISTED AS EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO KEEP THE COUNSELORS IN REPTILE STUDY MERIT REPTILE STUDY MERIT BADGE BEFORE BADGE or the Reptile and Amphibian SCOUTS as a desirable award. This (GS) badge, VHS lends a hand. They should be done in balance with the need not affiliate with VHS unless other badges in the Nature group­ impelled to do so. They should be ing. REPTILE STUDY is an option­ on the VHS mailing list, at least. al or elective badge. It isn't a "required" badge for attaining the The VHS Bulletin will provide them Eagle Scout rank; nor should it. with data on local reptiles or am­ Yet, the award should not be neg­ phibians, check lists, and popular lected --for safety reasons alone. guides to the Virginia species. A counselor may choose to hold these SOMETHING EVERY SCOUT SHOULD KNOW for reference or pass them on to Ideally, • each scout should be scouts who come to them for advice. familiar with the harmless snakes and know the poisonous snakes, on OFFICERS AND ADULT MEMBERS OF VHS sight, for the area around home or should make an effort to visit the summer camp. Realistically, it may scout camps during the coming camp rest on one scout in each patrol,' season. This can be done as part or two or three scouts in a troop, of a program of co-operation with to separate the non-poisonous from the camp naturalist, if any, or a the poisonous varieties. A scout camp program director. The great who cannot spare himself or his hope is that this can be done with hiking companions from possible out disturbance to the camp nature grief, or needless worry, on this program and with benefit to the Va. point is not really "prepared". reptile and amphibian census which we hope to have underway by early On Nature Badges, quite naturally, summer. The seasons are short and personal specialties will develop. planning should begin now. Ideally, each troop should have a "troop herpetologist" -- a scout, THE CAMP ASSISTANT NATURALISTS can or leader, who is able to confirm help explain the need for careful’ the identification of the reptiles observation, note-taking and pres­ with a degree of competence which ervation of specimens of interest satisfies the needs of safety and alive, or if necessary, in a sol­ wildlife conservation. ution of formalin. Specimens of scientific interest should be PASS THE WORD ABOUT VHS TO NATURE placed in one of the permanent DIRECTORS, MERIT BADGE DEANS, AND depository collections. We will REPTILE STUDY MERIT BADGE HOLDERS be pleased to announce any unusual AND COUNSELORS. VHS will place finds in the summer and fall VHS their names on the mailing lists Bulletins -- with credit to the to receive the VHS Bulletin on a collector. Collection data slips regular basis. MAY WE RECEIVE A will be supplied with each edition. MENTION IN YOUR SCOUT NEWSLETTER ? - 2 - "REPTILE STUDY" "ZOOLOGY" or "REPTILE and AMPHIBIAN" MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS -- (BSA, or GS) Send your name and address to the Secretary, VHS, in order to receive the VHS Bulletin regularly, without obligation. Write: Franklin Tobey, Secretary, VHS, 4706 Tallahassee Ave. Rockville,Md. If you are not a member, but would like to help in the VHS program, please consider membership. We can accomplish much more with'your help! Write: Dr. P.H. Knipling, 2623 Military Rd. Arlington,,Va. -v- (fill out and .follow instructions on detachable slip on the.inside baok cover of this copy of VHS Bulletin) VHS Bulletin No. 35 Page three MESSAGE TO VHS MEMBERS FROM THE SOCIETY'S PRESIDENT Much is yet to be done before we The Dismal Swamp is the northern­ obtain an accurate knowledge of most of a chain of southeastern the reptiles and amphibians of our swamps which extend all the way to state. There lies before every Florida. Because of this fact the member of the Va. Herpetological fauna of the Dismal Swamp is unique. Society, therefore, unparalleled Some primarily northern species opportunity to advance our knowl­ and others usually found further edge of this fascinating field of south than Virginia, occur there. natural history by making careful notes on the life history, habits, The EASTERN COTTOMMOUTH is a good behavior and ecology of amphibians example. A few years back a Caro­ and reptiles which we observe. lina Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus m. miliarius) was collected on the I believe, also, that much can be southern edge of the Dismal Swamp learned through regional and coun­ near the North Carolina state line ty records However, in the year in the Northwest River section. It 1964 I would certainly like to see was found in Virginia and certaih* a particular emphasis on the study ly is a most interesting record. of life histories. The knowledge More specimens from that region of many species is incomplete. It are needed to more fully substan­ is a study in which everyone can tiate this record. This is just participate, from the youngest to one example of some of the work' the oldest, with the most gratify­ to be done in Great Dismal Swamp. ing results. Remember, any obser­ vations in the field could become Of course, the low ground of the important\ entire Coastal Plain provides many swamps of notable interest, such Today, when man contemplates the as the Dahl Swamp in Accomack Co. exploration of the moon, there on Virginia's Eastern Shore. exists right at our doorstep a big region that still retains many an These swamps form a world somewhat unexplored corner. This region, apart -- an elusive world of light as you have undoubtedly guessed, and shadow -- where heavy rainfall is none other than the Great Dis­ and high humidity prompt the grow­ mal Swamp of southeastern Virginia. ing of a lush vegetation which form a perfect habitat for many Dismal Swamp is an interesting types of wildlife. This is true place in which to collect reptiles especially of the almost semi trap* and amphibians and for most groups ical area of our southeastern part has a rich fauna which will repay of the state.

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