CONTENTS. WHITE OF SELBORNE ON THE VIPER, SNAKES SWALLOWING THEIR YOUNG, SNAKES SWALLOWING THEIR YOUNG, SNAKES CHARMING BIRDS, MR. FRANK BUCKLAND ON ENGLISH SNAKES, MR. GOSSE ON THE JAMAICA BOA SWALLOWING HER YOUNG,. 33 FOR VIPERS AND SNAKES GENERALLY.* OR some time back I have noticed communications in Land and Water on the question, "Do vipers swallow their young?" but I have not seen the subject investigated in this way: Has any one, in dissecting a female viper, found eggs within her? and has any one found young ones inside of another? If both have been found, then, as a matter of course, the reptile must have swallowed her progeny. | mantelpiece, and one morning, very soon thereafter, he was surprised at finding a number of young snakes wriggling about on it, the heat of the fire having brought the eggs to the hatching point. Now it is extremely likely that the snake that laid these eggs was of the same species as the one that was killed, for both were in the same neighbourhood, where they were very numerous; and it is a peculiarity of snakes in America that you seldom or never find two kinds occupying the same ground-at least, during two years, I never came across any other kind than that of the one killed, and I saw many of them. I at once concluded that the snake that laid the eggs, and the one con same species; and as a natural consequence, that the latter had swallowed her young-quite independent of the general belief, and the positive ocular testimony of one person as to the fact.† I will establish the principle by what I have observed on Long Island, a short distance from New York. When strolling with a friend, he very suddenly seized a stone and dashed it with all his might upon the top of a low dry stone wall, and killed a pretty large snake of the ordinary brown striped species, ly-taining the young ones, were of the ing on it, basking in the sun. As it appeared more than ordinarily full about the body, I began to dissect it in a rough way, by tearing it apart with two sticks (for I did not like to touch it), to see what it contained, thinking it might be an animal it had swallowed, as a few days before I had killed another that had a frog partly down its gullet, feet foremost, but making no noise, when its intended prey hopped away as if it had not been injured. Having always understood that snakes were animals that "laid eggs," I was greatly surprised at finding about twenty snakelets of considerable size, and rather lively; but my friend asserted on the spot that snakes swallowed their young. This naturally led me to make inquiries, and I found a trustworthy neighbour who said positively that he had seen it done. Another, equally trustworthy, informed me that he found a bunch of snake's eggs when repairing a fence, and placed them as a curiosity on his Now to confirm the question by analogy, and on my own testimony. I have said that different kinds-at least certain kinds of snakes are not apt to be found on the same ground. There is a deadly enmity between black-snakes and some others. At a place in New Jersey, where I frequently visited, and kept a lookout for snakes, I never met with any on the same ground but black ones. On one occasion I killed one, very full about the body, and took it to the house I was visiting for careful dissection, expecting to find it with young, when I would satisfy myself whether the * Dated December 7th, 1872; printed 21st. As will be seen, they were of the identical species. young snake's eggs, generally near the stumps of trees, and exposed to the sun. He says that the covering resembled the white of a hen's egg very hard boiled-a fair description of those taken out of the animal. He says that he has taken the young out of various kinds of snakes, particularly black ones, and that the creatures always conducted themselves as if they had been on the earth before. He knew a number of people, who not only saw young snakes run into the mother's mouth, but took them out of her after killing her. As to the swallowing, he does not understand how any one could doubt it. I repeat the question I started with Has anyone in England found eggs in a viper? and has anyone found young ones in the same species? If both have been found, then the latter were swal had been swallowed or were in a state previous to birth. To my surprise I extracted fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen eggs (I forget which), all of one size, perhaps a little thicker at one end than the other, and of a dirty white colour, and soft, indiarubbery touch, connected together by a glutinous substance, and lying like a necklace along, as it were, the backbone of the animal. On being torn asunder the eggs contained a thick, milkylike matter. The glutinous substance would make the eggs stick together like a bunch, in the manner of those placed on the mantelpiece. Being all of one size and maturity, the snake would evidently lay them all at once, which she does somewhat like the turtle, to be hatched by heat, altogether disconnected from herself. Indeed the snake is such a cold-blooded animal-cold to touch in the hottest of weather-lowed; for it would be simply abthat it could not apparently hatch its eggs.* I came at once to the conclusion that, if brown and black snakes brought forth their young in the same way, then surely the brown snake had swallowed hers. To confirm this analogous proof, a friend, in whom every confidence can be placed, positively affirmed that a black-snake-of the same species as the one from which I took the eggs-was cut in two in his presence, when about twenty young ones were taken out of it, of about five inches long, and so active that they had to be killed to prevent their escape. In short, the mother had swallowed them. I then consulted an old New Jersey justice, a very reliable man, who ploughed up many a nest of *This is in allusion to the oviparous snakes, the eggs of which are hatched in the ground. The so-called viviparous bring the eggs far forward to maturity inside of them, leaving it an open question whether the eggs are hatched inside or outside of the reptile, or in the act of parturition. surd to say that the same animal could bring forth its young in both ways. As American snakes swallow their young, the same should easily be believed of the English viper, even if no one had seen it done. It has surprised me that, at this time of day, such a question should be an open one. What is the meaning of science, if it cannot be settled whether or not vipers swallow their young without it being necessary for people to see it done? I should think the anatomy of the reptile, in the hands of a skilful man, would show whether it was an egg or animal-bearing creature. Mr. Frank Buckland is, therefore, very unreasonable, when he says he will not believe that vipers swallow their young, unless he or some one else sees it done: and still more so, when he expects the creature to do it to order in a state of captivity, when it has no incentive to do it. It is uncertain what leads snakes to do it. Perhaps they do it for no particular reason, when they take charge of the young after being hatched by means independent of | found a beautiful specimen, soft and themselves. It would be impossible complete, including even the coverfor such a tiny creature to move ing of the eyes-in short, a comabout on the rough ground old plete snake, barring the animal insnakes go over. Sometimes it side. Indeed, I thought it was a might be to protect them from the snake till it did not move, when I weather, or carry them off in time approached it considerately, and beof danger. The brown snake, fore touching it, carefully examkilled in my presence, could not ined how it could have wriggled have been influenced by fear, for itself so completely out of its skin. there had been none near her when I found that it had caught itself a suddenly approached by myself and little below the head (or shoulders, friend, and particularly as she was if I may so express myself) on a basking, as I have said, on the top knot on the stem of a small but of a low stone wall, where it was stout dry weed of the previous apparently impossible for the young year's growth. I gave it to the perones to get, unless taken there in- son who killed the snake containing side of the mother. In a state of the young ones, on his going to viscaptivity, the snake can have no it his friends in Scotland, to show apparent incentive to take her it to them, and keep for the puryoung inside of her. Although pose (as he said) of wrapping it the neck of a snake is narrow, it round any gathering, to bring it to has an immense power of disten- a head. Although a fine, it was not sion when gradually swallowing its a large specimen. prey, while retaining its powers of breathing. The female has doubt less peculiarities given her by nature for taking her young down her throat and keeping them alive there. Once down, her great distension of body furnishes them with an excellent place of safety. It has often been observed that snakes of a size not likely to be able to take care of themselves are seldom or never seen. Some of your readers may not be aware that snakes (some species at least) shed their skins late in the spring or early in the summer, although it is not known that every snake gets a new coat every year.* On the place on Long Island mentioned, where the brown snakes were very numerous, I came across a skin that had been shed apparently the previous year, as it was considerably weather - beaten and dilapidated; but a few days afterwards (about the end of May), I * All snakes doubtless shed their skins once a year; some people say oftener, with some species. He says I may add by way of P. S., by another mail, that I yesterday met a very intelligent man, long a farmer in Illinois, who, on being asked generally, "What about snakes?" informed me very fully in regard to them, and exactly as I have written. He says that he has often seen them, of various species, swallow their young, and that it is a very interesting sight. So quickly is it done, that it somewhat resembles a continuous glistening string passing into the mother's mouth. it takes place on the approach of wet weather and danger, and, as he supposes, when the snake wishes to "locomote." We see in this an amazing adaptation of means to an end, perhaps as wonderful a one as is to be found in natural history. For, when the snake goes to where she deposited her eggs to begin her maternal duties proper, and, in all probability, at the moment of hatching, she would be absolutely unable to take care of, perhaps, twenty helpless creatures, emerging from eggs about an inch in length, laid by a snake about three feet long, if |