The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-12-14
SNAKES.
Very Interesting Particulars Con-
Cernmg their Affairs.

CePnmg their Affairs.
About the tenth Of May last, Drs.
CardwelI and Westmoreland cap
tured at Prospect, in the lower end
of Giles county, Tennessee, near the
Alabama line a rattle snake four
feet three inches in length, and five
inches in circumference. The
snake was sent to the Exposition,
but the managers not deeming it
| proper to receive it, it was sent to
| the drug store of Messrs. Berry
q Demovine, who declined to give
it quarters. Itwas then sent to the
drug store of NJ. C. Cotton, in
Nashville, whore it has been since
the 18th Of May. When captured
it had eight rattles and BUTTON
Since that time it has been confn-
ed IN a glass case, and has not par
taken of one particle of food,
though it has been tempted with
mice and other small animals on
which the reptile has been accus-
toned to feed. The snake mani
tested no Inconvenience from its
confinement, nor did it loose any in
size or bodily vitality. It's eyes
continued to glisten like magnetic
steel, and its lancinating tongue
ready to protrude at the appearance
of any one near the case. DR. Cot
ton thought all the time it was a
male. Though small rats and mice
have been confined in the case with
the snake until their own hunger
urged them to bite at its scaly hide,
the serpent refused to give them no
tice or partake of food. On two or
three occasions it has taken small
quantities of water. On Thursday,
at one o'clock on going into the
back room of the store, where the
case is kept, it was discovered that
the snake had given birth to four
young ones, and by three O'Clock
she had given birth to three more,
making seven in all. The young
ones made their appearance one at
a time, and in a coiled or striking
position, their eyes glistening and
their envenomed tongues continu-
ously darting out. The young ones
are each from nine to fifteen inches
long, and in a state of perfect de
velopment. They are quick of mo-
tion and possess no ordinary spi-
nal vitality, as they crawl really to
the top of the case and move with
celerity across and around it from
end to end.
What is most singular and con
trary to all the resolved notions
concerning the reptile, each of
these young snakes has a full but
ton on the end OF the tail, which
clearly refutes the idea that they |
have to be six months old before |
the formation Of button. The /
old snake was lying in the cage in a /
lethargic state with some indica-
tions, as the doctor thought, Of in /
creasing the eoiling family. The /
young snakes coil around her, and !
under and over her, and she seems /
to have for them the natural ma
ternaI affection Of instinct. This +
snake has been in captivity nearly
ten months, yet during all that pc
Rod Of time she has not partaken
of a particle Of food, and has
brooded her seven young. As to
exactly how long from inception
the process of CESSATION or incuba-
ton has been going on, there is no
means of ascertaining, as we can on
Is date from her captivity.
DR. Cotton informs us that he
once before kept in the same
case a large rattlesnake for three
years and nine months, aud that he