Scope and Contents 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,...