Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-22
HOW RATTLEsNAKES ARE BORN.

Some months ago Doctors Cardwell and
Westmoreland captured, at Prospect, in the
lower edge of Giles county, near the Alabama
line, rattlesnake four feet three inches long
and FIVE inches in circumference. The snake
was sent to the exposition, but the managers
not deerning it proper to receive it, it was sent
to the drug store of Messrs. Berry & Down
vile, who also declined to give it quarters.
1t was then sent to the drug store of NJ. G.
Cotton, in South Nashville, where it has been
since the 18th of May.
When captured it had eight rattles and
button. Since that time it has been confined
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 accustomed to feed. The snake
manifested no inconvenience from its con6ne-
ment, nor did it lose any in size or bodily vi
tality. Its eyes continued to glisten like
magnetic steel, and its fascinating tongue
ready to protrude at the appearance of any
one near the case. DR.. Cotton thought all
the while it was a male. Though small mice
and rats 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 notice or to partake Of food. On
two or three occasions it has taken small guam
titles 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 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
a coiled or striking position, their eyes glis.
tening and their envenomed tongues continu.
ally 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 vi
tality, 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 received notions con-
cerning the reptiles each ofthese young snakes
has full button on the tail, which clearly re-
flutes 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 lethargic
state, with some indications, as the doctor
thought, of increasing the coiling family. The
young snakes coil around her, and under and
over her, and she seems to have for them the
natural maternal affection Of instinct. This
snake has been in captivity near four months,
yet during all that period she has partaken of
not morsel of food, and has brooded her
young. AS to exactly how long from incep-
ton the process of CESSATION or incubation has
been going on, there is no means OF ascertain
ing, as we can only date from her captivity.
DR.. Cotton informs us that he once before
kept in the same case large-szed rattlesnake
for 3 years and 9 months, and that he stu
died closely its various moods and changes.
This snake, he says, did not partake of a par
ticle 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 voraciously. 1t
never would touch lame mouse or dead
one, fresh as it might be. When young
rat was put into the case, it would plant its
unerring fang in some part of the limb or
body, and then wait until it died from the
thorough incubation of the poison. When
quite dead it would turn it over, take it head
foremost and swallow it, evidently drawing
nutriment from the poison its own fangs had
infused. 1t shed its skin twice year-each
spring and autumn-a new rattle appearing
at each shedding, which explodes the popular
notion that but one rattle comes year. Yes
terday morning the doctor took the case and
placed it in the sun. From the effects of the
sun three of the young snakes died. Two
others became stupe6ed, but recovered their
vitality on being removed to the shade The
circumstance attracted large numbers OF visi-
tors to the drug store to see the venomous
family.