ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪftiːn, hiː dɪskˈʌvɚd hɪz pɹˈɛfɹəns fɔːɹ hˌɜːpɪtˈɑːlədʒi dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ɐ fˈoːɹmˈʌnθ tɹˈeɪnɪŋ kˈoːɹs æt ðə pˈɜːdiː ˈɔɪl kˈʌmpəni ɪn luːˌiːzɪˈænə.
In 1915, he discovered his preference for herpetology during a four-month training course at the Perdee Oil Company in Louisiana.