The second known "Lampropeltis blairi," was collected by Ralph Axtell at the US 90-Devil's River bridge in 1950. This resulted in a note published in Copeia by Axtell accompanied by a magnificent John Werler portrait of the snake.

The same snake also received extensive attention in Wright and Wright's 1957 Handbook of Snakes, which quoted from Axtell's note and reprinted Werler's photograph. A letter from Werler was also quoted concerning observations on its behavior during its exhibition at the San Antonio Zoo. No mention was made of the fate of the snake.

According to an old friend of mine, who was among Werler's "groupies" at the Zoo in the early fifties, that snake somehow managed to escape from its enclosure and was never seen again! Axtell was said to be livid. Although my friend was just a teenager at the time, I have no reason to doubt his story.

I mention this only in the wake of John Werler's passing and as an example that it can happen even to the very best of us.

Tom Lott

[ Show Entire Thread ]