has gloss | eng: The Society of Book and Snake is the fourth oldest secret society at Yale University. Book and Snake was founded at the Sheffield Scientific School in 1863 as a three-year society bearing the Greek letters Sigma Delta Chi . As other "Sheff" societies, it was once residential and maintained a separate residential "cloister" on Hillhouse Ave, which was built in 1888 and deeded to Yale after the institution of the residential college system. Each year Book and Snake taps 16 new members, 8 male and 8 female. This is in contrast to most other senior societies, which tap 15. Members are said to be leaders in different activities on campus and representative of Yale's academic, athletic, artistic and social scenes. |