In a recent article I described how Reg Lanworn, a keeper at London Zoo, had been sent out to bring back a collection of animals from Singapore that had been assembled by Alfred St Alban Smith, a rubber planter. For his support between 1926 and 1930 St Alban Smith was awarded the rare honour of a Silver Medal by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in 1931. He continued to send shipments until 1936. His main interest was in the reptiles of the Malay Peninsula and there is no doubt that he sent a sufficient number to fill a zoo’s reptile house several times over.
St Alban Smith (as he was usually termed although Smith was his surname) and his donations attracted a great deal of coverage in newspapers both in Britain and in what was then Malaya.
The following is a list of his donations to the zoo or ones which he facilitated together with some notes from the media coverage.
The lists have been taken from the annual reports of ZSL. Many of the common names used are difficult to match to names both common and scientific in use nearly a hundred years later. For some years species or subspecies new to the collection were deemed worthy of special mention and in those cases the scientific name was given.
1926
2 Javan Adjutants
1927
1 Malayan Palm-Civet, 2 Prevost’s Squirrels, 3 Two-banded Monitors, 1 Rusty Tiger Cat, 1 Slow Loris
1928
This collection from St Alban Smith was brought to London by Walter Goodfellow (1866-1953) the well known collector. Goodfellow was being paid by John Spedan Lewis (1885-1963) of John Lewis department stores and noted aviculturist to collect birds in the Far East.
1 Malayan Palm Civet, 3 Plantain Squirrels, 2 Prevost’s Squirrels, 2 Hamadryads, 1 Binturong, 1 Slow Loris, 1 Oriental Eagle-Owl, 1 Malay Fish-Owl, 8 Java Sparrows, 1 Indian Cobra, 1 Three-marked Palm Civet, 1 Malaccan Civet, 1 Yellow-throated Marten, Fin-tailed Lizards, 1 Rough-necked Monitor, 1 Red-marked Burrowing Snake, 2 Dog-faced Water Snakes, 1 Painted Tree Snake, 1 Eight-lined Snake
1929
One of the Hamadryads (King Cobra) was over 11 feet long.
Much was made in the newspapers, occidental and oriental, of the tiger in this collection. It (‘Charlie’) was, the newspapers reported, ‘the only man-eating tiger the Zoo has ever possessed’. Reports are a little garbled but one states that the tiger was tracked and caught by St Alban Smith himself. All reports agree that it was a Sumatran Tiger.
The collection also includes a large number of monitors lizards, one of which is a giant, approaching in size the “dragons” of Komodo. These monitors indulged in fighting during the voyage, and they will have to be kept in the reptile house sanatorium for some time while their scars are being dressed.
1 Binturong, 4 Prevost's Squirrels, 3 Slow Loris, 2 Black Apes, 3 Indo-Malayan Palm Civets, 2 Leopards, 2 Pallas's Squirrels, 1 Sun Bear, 1 Masked Palm Civet, 1 Tiger, 1 Silvery Gibbon,
2 Great Barbets, 4 Nicobar Pigeons, 2 Purple-capped Lories, 3 Forsten's Lorikeets, 2 Blue-streaked Lories, 2 Grand Eclectus, 2 Violet-necked Lories, 2 Wrinkled-billed Hornbills, 1 Brahminy Kite, 1 Indian Pied Hornbill, 1 Javan Hawk-Eagle, 2 Red Lories, 2 Black-capped Lories, 4 Ornate Lorikeets, 1 Blue-collared Parrakeet, 1 Racquet-Tailed Parrot, 2 Blood Pythons, 18 Black-and-Gold Tree Snakes, 4 Reticulated Pythons, 7 Two-banded Monitors, 22 Common Asiatic Toads, 5 Painted Tree Snakes, 1 Spiny Terrapin, 20 Yellow Monitors, 1 Bell's Lizard, 4 Orange-striped Snakes, 3 Rare Elaphes, 2 Tail-lined Tree Snakes, 1 Fordonia Water Snake, 2 Hamadryads, 1 Wagler's Temple Viper, 15 Gray's Temple Vipers, 1 Common Malayan Tree Frog, 1 False Sea Snake, 1 Red-marked Burrowing Snake, 1 Eight-lined Snake, 3 Emerald Tree Snakes, 2 Cerberus Water Snakes, 43 Malayan Bull Frogs, 1 Ornate Tree Snake,1 Iridescent Snake, 1 Red Big-toothed Snake, 1 Emma's Lizard, 1 Cerberus Water Snake, 1 Green Pit Viper, 1 Sumatran Pit Viper, 2 Flattish Soft-shelled Turtles, 1 Doria's Water Snake, 1 Sumpah-sumpah, 1 Spotted Callugar
1930
The 1930 shipment which Keeper Lanworn was sent out to bring back from Singapore was the big one, well two because a second ship left Singapore a month after the first. On 26 April, St Alban Smith launched an appeal in the Straits Times to augment his own collection that was to be sent to London:
This article is an appeal, but before the impoverished reader turns away hastily let us reassure him that it is not his money we want; neither do we want his old clothes nor his signature to a petition praying for an improvement in the rubber and tin markets. We want animals, birds and reptiles!
At present, the London Zoo, in which Malaya was almost unrepresented for many years, contains 285 specimens of the wild life of this country. The collection is not nearly representative and the London Zoological Society, in a laudable attempt to improve this state of affairs, has already dispatched one of the ablest keepers in its employ, Keeper Lanworn, who is due in Singapore shortly. It should be understood that Keeper Lanworn is rot coming to Malaya to spend money.
He is coming to take charge of a collection made by Mr. A. St. Alban Smith at Seletar, and anything else he can lay his hands on….
This is a much larger matter than may appear at first glance. We hear repeated complaints that people at Home are content to remain in blissful ignorance of the various aspects of life in different parts of the Empire. Here is an opportunity to teach them something in a pleasant way; to provide interest and amusement for the thousands of Londoners who flock to Regent's Park on every Bank Holiday; to perform a still greater public service by making available for study by the scientists living specimens of the wild life of the Peninsula… Snakes, frogs and other reptiles are wanted as well as tigers and the larger beasts. In no case will any expense be incurred by the donor if he or she will arrange for delivery of the contribution to Mr. A. St. Alban Smith at Seletar, Singapore. From that point all transport charges to London will be met, Messrs. Alfred Holt and Co., Ltd., having generously agreed to forego their charges in the case of animals intended for the London Zoo, while the Zoological Society has expressed its willingness to put up a card giving the name of each person presenting a specimen. In addition, the Straits Times is prepared to acknowledge all contributions received at Seletar…
Hitherto, the Zoological Society has had to rely upon the enthusiasm of the few for contributions to its Malayan section. That the specimens already received are appreciated is evidenced by the Society's willingness to send a keeper half way round the world to take charge of the collection of one man. The visit provides an opportunity for making this appeal to a wider section of the public and we commend it to the earnest consideration of all lovers of animal life. Particularly would we ask those who have visited the Zoological Society's Gardens in Regent's Park to recall the thrill and pleasure that attended an experience which could not have been enjoyed but for the generosity of people living in the remoter parts of the world. Now is the chance to pass on, at little or no expense, some of that pleasure to others, only a very small percentage of whom are ever likely to have an opportunity cf seeing the wild animals of the tropics in their natural surroundings.
Apart from the recreation provided for many thousands every year by the London Zoo, the educative and scientific value of the institution entitles it to the sympathetic support of all who are in a position to give assistance. Another claim which the Zoological Society has to the consideration of the people of Malaya is that its founder and first President was Sir Stamford Raffles, the most assiduous worker, the most enthusiastic collector of everything which could advance the cause of knowledge and of science.
A reminder: if you are reading this other than on the Zoology Jottings site, it has been stolen.
The newspapers took a great interest in the the collection. On 20 June 1930, the Straits Times provided a list of the donations, together with those animals bought by ZSL from dealers, which had left Singapore on the Alfred Holt steamer Eumaeus in May. The article also warned:
Mortality on a long voyage is always heavy, especially among reptiles, so unless keeper Lanworn is specially fortunate the consignment he will deliver at the Gardens will probably be considerably less than that which left Singapore.
From the same report we learn that Reg Lanworn was ‘was laid up for two weeks as a result of undue familiarity with a large temple viper’ and thus unable to gather some of the animals promised by government departments.
A further shipment from Singapore, including, presumably, those left behind because of Reg Lanworn’s snake bite, followed:
A final shipment will leave on June 29. in this will be included a fine male tapir purchased by the Zoo, a three-year-old tame Orang Utan presented by Mrs. Cochrane, of British North Borneo, a bear from Major Peake, Johore, several rare birds, wild cats, civets, a leopard, a large collection of tortoises and terrapins, and over 100 poisonous snakes.
1 Jelerang Squirrel, 1 Large Indian Civet Cat, 1 Marbled Cat, 2 Leopard Cats,1 Hardwicke's Civet Cat, 1 Dusky Langur, 4 Slow Loris, 1 Pig-tailed Monkey, 2 Rusty Tiger Cats, 7 Asiatic Chipmunks, 5 Chinese Squirrels, 1 Grizzled-Grey Tree Kangaroo, 1 Rusty Tiger Cat, 2 Crab-eating Monkeys, 1 Feather-tailed Phalanger, 2 Racket-tailed Parrots, 1 Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 3 White-billed Hornbills, 26 Malay Orange-bellied Flower-peckers, 1 White-breasted Niltava, 1 Friar Bird, 5 White-collared Kingfishers, 2 Malayan Yellow-vented Bulbuls, 1 Malay Serpent Eagle, 7 Green Sunbirds, 1 Occipital Blue Pie, 1 Black-winged Grackle, 2 Yellow-crowned Bulbuls, 2 Great Barbets, 3 Indian White Eyes, 4 Dwarf Turtle Doves, 1 Ferruginous Wood Partridge, 1 Great-headed Maleo, 2 White-rumped Lories, 6 Ornate Lorikeets, 1 Aru Island Parrakeet, 9 Painted Tree Snakes, 3 Emerald Tree Snakes, 5 Cerberus Water Snakes, 1 Hamadryad, 2 Blood Pythons, 10 Indian Cobras, 45 Gray's Temple Vipers, 15 Tail-lined Tree Snakes, 1 Greater Indian Rat Snake, 4 Eastern Rat Snakes, 6 Black and Gold Tree Snakes, 23 Wagler's Pit Vipers, 1 Indian Wolf Snake, 2 Spiny Terrapins, 3 Iridescent Snakes, 4 Orange-striped Snakes, 3 Rare Elaphes, 5 Red-marked Burrowing Snakes, 1 Boie's Cat Snake, 3 Grass Green Tree Snakes, 3 Two-banded Monitors, 1 Baska Water Tortoise, 7 Elephant Water Snakes, 3 Eight-lined Snakes, 5 Ornate Tree Snakes, 1 Striped Blind Snake, 4 Fin-tailed Lizards, 1 Sun Lizard, 1 Olive Skink, 1 Reticulated Python, 26 Broad-headed Water Snakes, 1 Sealing Wax Snake, 2 False Sea Snakes, 1 Red-banded Snake, 1 Jasper Tree Snake, 1 King Gecko, 2 Peron's House Geckos, 3 Sun Skinks, 1 Sumpah Sumpah, 2 Two-banded Monitors, 2 Dumeril's Monitors, 8 Oldham's Terrapins, 11 Spiny Terrapins, Spotted Callagurs, 2 Reeves's Terrapins, 3 Three-banded Terrapins, 3 Common Asiatic Toads, 9 Gold-lined Frogs, 2 Long-nosed Tree Snakes, 4 Malayan Giant Frogs, 8 Common Sea Snakes, 5 Amboina Box Tortoises, 1 Starred Tortoise, 7 Japanese Newts, 10 Bridled House Geckos, 5 Schlegel's Gharials, 1 Yellow Monitor, 3 Great Moluccan Skinks
Stirling WG. 7 Common Seasnakes, 1 Black-necked Grackle, 2 Malayan Giant Frogs
Neale Mrs. 2 Slow Loris, 4 Domestic Cats
Burleigh A. 1 Sun Bear
Glenister AG 2 Tigers, 1 Sun Bear (with Mrs Glenister and Mrs Evans)
Edwards, Major A. 1 Pig-tailed Monkey
Mian, Goh Keng. 6 Broad-headed Water Snakes
Smediey, Norman. 6 Cerberus Water Snakes
1931
3 Amboina King Parrakeets, 2 White-rumped Lories, 1 Aru Island Parrakeet, 2 Fishing Cats, 1 Long-nosed Tree Snake, 16 Black-and-gold Tree Snakes, 4 Gray’s Temple Vipers, 1 Broad-headed Water Snake, 3 Madagascar Weaver Birds, 5 Green Sunbirds, 1 Malay Orange-bellied Flower-pecker, 1 Brahminy Kite, 1 Javan Fishing Owl
1933
2 Blood Pythons, 1 Black & Gold Tree Snake, 3 Red-marked Burrowing Snakes, 4 Orange-striped Snakes, 1 Tail-lined Tree Snake, 2 Indian Cobras, 2 Speckled Water Snakes, 2 Geckos, 3 Painted Tree Snakes, 1 Peron’s House Gecko, 4 Bridled House Geckos, 2 Hamadryads, 2 Common Big-toothed Snakes, 1 Flat-tailed Gecko, 5 Common Malayan Frogs, 1 Common Malayan Tree Frog, 1 Dog-faced Snake, 7 Emerald Tree Snakes, 2 Black & Gold Tree Snakes, 1 Reticulated Python, 1 Eight-lined Snake, 1 Sealing Wax Snake, 1 Frog, 2 Malayan Grass Snakes
1934
39 Hamadryads, 44 Black & Gold Tree Snakes, 11 Orange Striped Snakes, 7 Emerald Tree Snakes, 1 Sealing Wax Snake, 9 Common Malayan Tree Frogs, 2 Wagler's Pit Vipers, 3 Gold-lined Frogs, 5 Broad-headed Water Snakes, 8 Gray's Temple Vipers, 2 Red-marked Burrowing Snakes, 1 Iridescent Snake, 6 Common Malayan Frogs, 1 Edeling's Grass Snake, 4 Reticulated Pythons, 2 Fordonia Water Snakes, 6 Painted Tree Snakes, 2 Malayan Grass Snakes, 2 Black Cobras, 6 Cerberus Water Snakes, 2 Boie's Cat Snakes, 1 Tail-lined Tree Snake, 1 Ganjam Snake, 1 Eight-lined Snake, 2 Indian Wolf Snakes, 2 Reddish Rat Snakes
1935
The size of the larger of the two Reticulated Pythons donated by St Alban Smith was of particular interest to the press. It was 28 feet long and needed 14 men to wrangle it out its crate.
14 Emerald Tree Snakes, 28 Gray’s Temple Vipers, 11 Waglers Pit Vipers, 2 Malayan Grass Snakes, 5 Tail-lined Tree Snakes, 4 Black Cobras, 8 Orange-striped Snakes, 3 Hamadryads, 6 Reticulated Pythons, 1 Iridescent Snake, 1 Malayan Grass Snake, 4 Red Big-toothed Snakes, 6 Banded Kraits, 9 Painted Tree Snakes, 12 Black and Gold Tree Snakes, 2 Ornate Tree Snakes, 1 Red-ringed Tree Snake, 1 Schneider’s Water Snake, 2 Sealing Wax Snakes, 1 Indian Wolf Snake, 1 Red-tailed Tree Snake,12 Bridled House Geckos, 2 Common Malayan Frogs, 2 Common MalayanTree Frogs, 2 Reddish Rat Snakes, 1 Cerberus Water Snake, 5 Gold-lined Frogs, 3 Blood Pythons
1936
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| Straits Times 26 April 1936 |
Tourniquets were applied, the wound scarified with a razor blade, and permanganate crystals rubbed in. Mr. St. Alban Smith, who has had long experience with snakes, having sent many shipments to the London Zoo, also injected 50 c.c. of cobra anti-venene [sic] which he had got from the Kasauli Institute, India, and Mr. Chard made a rapid recovery.
This shipment was taken was to be to taken to London by St Alban Smith. However, he postponed his trip. It included two baby Orang-utans from Sarawak. They may be the ones attributed to a donation by E. Banks CMZS that year. The report in the Straits Times noted that they were being looked after by St Alban Smith on his estate at Peradin, Johore.
Other newspapers noted the large size of the Hamadryads as well as St Alban’s Smith’s capture of the white snakes in the Batu caves of Johore:
Mr. St Alban Smith writes that the present specimens were caught, by the aid of electric torches, a mile and a half from the entrance and separated from it by an underground river. It is thought that they feed on the "devil" bats, which inhabit the caves in such huge numbers that their guano has accumulated in places to a depth of 10ft., though how the snakes are able to catch such active prey in the complete darkness is unknown.
The News Chronicle of 23 October 1936 had on article on new gibbons at the Zoo. They were, it was noted, brought to Singapore from an area beyond Bangkok through the efforts of St Alban Smith and then to London by Walter Goodfellow.
6 Ornate Tree Snakes, 1 Eight-lined Snake, 2 Indian Wolf Snakes, 4 Boie's Sea Snakes, 2 Black & Gold Tree Snakes, 1 Malayan Grass Snake, 7 Sacred Cave Snakes, 1 Eastern Rat Snake, 1 Indian Changeable Lizard, 1 Island Gecko, 1 Bridled House Gecko, 1 Well-spotted Snake, 4 Emerald Tree Snakes, 14 Painted Tree Snakes, 4 Red-Marked Burrowing Snakes, 1 Red Big-toothed Snake, 1 Lesser Indian Rat Snake, 5 Tail-lined Tree Snakes, 3 Reticulated Pythons, 3 Orange-striped Snakes, 32 Gray's Temple Vipers, 13 Wagler's Pit Vipers, 13 Black Cobras, 2 Hamadryads, 1 Reddish Rat Snake, 1 Branded Krait, 1 Blood Python, 1 Common Malayan Tree Frog, 2 Common Malayan Frogs, 154 Cerberus Water Snakes, 1 Triton Cockatoo, 1 Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 1 Iridescent Snake, 9 Siamese Fighting Fish, 2 Gouldian Grass Finches, 7 Yellow-breasted Buntings, 3 Malay Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers, 1 Japanese Waxwing, 1 Green Sunbird, 2 Malaccan Sunbirds, 2 Van Haselt's Sunbirds, 5 White Eyes
Snake Venom Research
St Alban Smith also sent snakes to the Staten Island Zoo, New York City, that was in 1935 and probably beyond. In 1939 The Straits Times noted that cobras he had sent had been used at Mount Sinai Hospital to make a preparation of serum for the cure on intense pain and that venom had been used to treat haemophilia. Now these were of course the interests of Burgess Barnett, Curator of Reptiles at London Zoo, until his removal from the job by ZSL’s Council in 1937. St Alban Smith was clearly in constant touch and I suspect was in close rapport with Barnett and I suspect was asked by the latter to send venomous snakes to New York. Bartlett wrote an article for the London Evening News in 1933 explaining how the Reptile House dealt with shipments of snakes from St Alban Smith in Singapore. Warily was the method.
The End
St Alban Smith’s donations to London Zoo slid out of view after his death in 1940. On 28 September the Straits Times included a snippet from its London correspondent. ‘Goliath’, the 28-foot Reticulated Python sent by St Alban Smith in 1935, ate a whole goat—horns included. But then, on 23 November 1942, Craven Hill, the zoo correspondent for the London Evening Standard, reported that Goliath had died.
...and what on earth are sumpah-sumpahs?
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