Connecticut western news., 1871-12-08
About Rattlesnakes,

A Rattlesnake caught in Alabama was confined in a glass case, over six months ago. Since that time it has been confin- ed in glass case, and has not partaken of one particle of food, though it has been tempted with mice and other small animals on which the reptile is accustom- ed to feed. The snake manifested no in- convenience from it's confinement, nor did it loose any in size or bodily vitality. Its eyes continued to glisten like mag netic steel, and its lancinating tongue ready to protrude at the appearance of thought all the while it was 8 male. Though small mice and rats have been confined ill the case with the snake un til their own hunger urged them to bite at its scaly hide, the serpent refused to give them notice or to partake of food. On two or three occasions it has taken, small quantities of water. One day late ly, on going in the back room of the store, where the case is kept, it was dis covered that the snake had giving birth to four young snakes, and by three o'clock she.had given birth to three more, making seven in all. The young snakes made their appearance one at time, and in 8 coiled or striking position, their eyes glistening and their envenmoned tongues continuously darting out. The young ones are each from nine to fifteen inches in length and in state of perfect development. They are quick of motion, and possess no ordinary spinal vitality, as they crawl readily to the top of the case and move with celerity across and around it from end to end. What is most singular and contrary to all the re- solved notions concerning the reptile, each of these young snakes has full button on the tail, which clearly refutes the idea that they have to be six months old before the formation of the button. The old snake was lying in her cage in 8 lethargic state, with some indications, the doctor thought. of increasing the coiling family. The young snakes coil around her and under her and over her, and she seems to have for them the nat ural maternal affection of instinct. This snake has been in captivity six months, yet during sll that period of time she has partaken of not a morsel of food, and has brooded her seven young. As to exactly how long from inception the process of gestation or incubation has been going on, there is no means of as- l certaining.
 Dr. Cotton states that he once before kept in the same case larged sized rat tlesnake for three years and nine months, and that he studied closely it's various moods and changes. This snake, he says, did not partake of a particle of food for the first nine months, and but little water. He then gave it mice, rats, etc., putting the same into the case alive, and it commenced devouring them voracious- ly. It would never touch a lame mouse or Q dead one, fresh as it might be. When a young rat was put into the case, it would plant its unerring fang in some part of the body, and then wait until it died from thorough inoculation of the poison. When quite dead it would turn Ii over, take it head foremost and swallow it, evidently drawing nutriment from the poison it's fangs had infused. It shed its skin twice year, each Spring and Au- tumn, a new rattle appearing at each shed. ding, which explodes the popular notion that but one rattle comes year.