 | mobile - desktop |
|
| mobile - desktop |
|
 |
 |
News & Events:
|
Posted by Byron Larkin on July 18, 2002 at 10:31:37:
In Reply to: I think we're makin progress, Steve posted by David L. Martin on July 18, 2002 at 10:01:20:
Since we have apparently come full-circle in a discussion that now, unfortunately, seems to be generating far more heat than light, and ego seems to be getting in the way of common sense, it is probably a wise decision to terminate our present line of inquiry before the heat bursts into flames. However, because I find the legend and lore of giant EDBs to be so fascinating, perhaps we could examine a less controversial aspect of the issue, where there are no “right or wrong” answers.
I’d like to start with what that the renowned, cultural historian, Joseph Campbell, called “The Power of Myth”, which was also the title of a book and a highly acclaimed PBS series on the same subject. One of Campbell’s revealing observations, and I think it may be important to this discussion, was that myths, legends, and folk tales that feature large, dangerous animals have always seem to exert a much more powerful influence upon the human psyche than myths, legends, and folk tales that have not. I would surmise that this may be a partial explanation for why there seems to be such an enduring fascination with things like big sharks, big spiders, big gorillas, big alligators, big snakes, and so-on. Obviously, Hollywood has picked-up on the insatiable human appetite for this sort of thing, regardless of the level of absurdity. In any event, mankind’s seemingly addictive attraction to large, dangerous animals, which, according to Campbell, has been going on for thousands of years, throughout hundreds of different cultures all over the world, must be a deeply-seated, psychological one.
In any event, regardless of the origin of this phenomenon, which may extend well back into our evolutionary past, people do seem to be attracted to dangerous creatures, especially very large, almost supernatural ones. The principal characters in “Moby Dick”, “King Kong”, “Jaws”, “Anaconda”, and “Shssss” are just a few of the more notable examples that come to mind. As such, I can’t help but feel that in some unquantifiable way, part of the mystique surrounding the giant Eastern Diamondback is linked inextricably to this human propensity. I also feel that part of that mystique is linked inextricably to the unique history of Florida.
From the very beginnings of recorded history about the State, there has always been a mysterious element to the impenetrable, southern interior that probably started with the search for “Fountain of Youth” by the Spanish in the 1500’s, and didn’t really end until well after the first land “boom” in the 1920’s. Tales of huge serpents and crocodile-like beasts are prevalent throughout much of the early literature about Florida, and fanciful drawings by artists like Le Moyne, and exaggerated accounts by naturalists like William Barton and others who ventured into the vast, untamed interior during the 17th and 18th centuries only added to this enduring perception. The aura of Florida’s wild and uncharted interior was solidified during the U.S. Army’s abysmal experience during the last Seminole War in the 1840’s, and even as late as the 1930’s, there were still tales of undiscovered Indian cities, hidden deep in the Everglades, that would supposedly rival some of those found today in Mexico and Central America.
By the end of 1940’s, of course, much of the mystery was gone. Exaggerated accounts by early explorers had been replaced by exaggerated accounts by newly-arrived hucksters and land developers bent on extracting every post-war, G.I. dollar to be had. By the mid-1950’s, tourism and construction was booming, and so was the hype. It was during this same, 20-year time period, from about 1930 to 1950, that most of the “reports” of 8’, 9’, and even 10’ EDBs began to circulate and proliferate. Of course, at the very dawn of this 20-year era, Raymond L. Ditmars, the “High Priest” of armchair herpetology, had just published his highly dubious findings, which only added credence to the growing legend.
Since Ditmars’ fame was well established, and his credibility unchallengeable by reasons of professional protocol, most young herpetologists of the day, and there weren’t very many to start with, accepted his findings as factual. Of course, the few who did manage to investigate on their own, like Klauber, Pope, and Kauffeld never found any of these giant EDBs, and had to rely, for the most part, on second-hand reports from “reliable sources”. It was too late anyway. The legend had become fact, and had now found its way into countless field guides, text books, tourist brochures, and onto highway billboards. As we all know, this was about the time that the famous collector-turned-showman, Ross Allen, recognized that the “Power of Myth”, coupled with big reptiles, equaled big dollars. And, his sensational “Reptile Institute” at Silver Springs made a lot it, for quite some time. In fact, it’s still there, and is still making money.
Were there ever any wild Eastern Diamondbacks that reached the 7 1/2’ mark? I think that there may have been, but as far as I know, no credentialed expert, other than Ditmars, has ever claimed to have personally measured one, and no professional collector like Ross Allen or Arthur Jones, who captured absolutely thousands and thousands of them during the period from the early 1940’s to the early 1960’s, ever found one. Believe me, I knew Ross Allen, and if one that size could have been found, he would have found it. And, he would have made the most of it. Were there ever any wild EDBs that exceeded the 8’ mark. I seriously doubt it, but the “Power of Myth” suggests otherwise. I’ll keep an open mind.
