Snake superstitions ; Below the sahara

SEGMENT 1: Snake Superstitions. Ancient fears and superstitions held by mankind about snakes are the topics of discussion for the first segment of this Adventure program. Charles M. Bogert, herpetologist and chairman of the Department of Amphibians and Reptiles at the AMNH, presents an experiment with rattlesnakes to determine how sensitive they are to heat. The snakes are blindfolded and balloons filled with hot or cold water are passed above their heads. The snakes strike the hot balloons, thus proving their ability to detect heat without their vision. SEGMENT 2: Below the Sahara. The second segment of this broadcast features Armand Denis and his wife Michaela in an editing room. Armand Denis is introduced as a noted wildlife photographer, film documenteary producer in Africa, Asia, and New Guinea, and creator of classic films such as Dark Rapture and Savage Splendor. Armand Denis also led an AMNH expedition to New Guinea in 1952 to study the culture of a living stone age society. Both Armand and Michaela Denis discuss their past work and show clips of themselves filming animals in Kenya. Scenes from their latest production, Below the Sahara, are presented.