Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-16

SOMETHING ABOUT RATTLEsNAKEs is
learned by the observations of Dir. Cotton,
of Nashville, upon one four feet three in.
ches long, and five inches in circumference.
When captured il had eight ratles and a
button. Since that time il has been con-
fined in glass case ii has not partaken of
one particle OF food, though it has been
tempted with mice and other small ami
mails on which tho reptile is aecus stoned to
feed. The snake manifested no inconveni-
ence from its con finement, nor did it lose
any in size or bodily vitality. It's eyes
continued TO glisted like magnetic steel,
and its lAncinating langs TO protrude at the
appearance of any one near the case. DIR.
Cotton thought all the while it was male.
Though small rats and mice have been con-
fined in the cage with the snake until their
own hunger urged them to bite at its scaly
hide, the serpent refused TO give them no.
tice or TO partake of food. On two or three
occasions it has taken small quantities of
water. On Thursday at 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 a time and in coiled or striking posi-
ton, their eyes glistening and their enven-
omed tongues continually darling 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 celebrity across and around
ii from ond TO end. What is most singular
and contrary TO all the received notions
concerning the reptile, each of these young
snakes has fall 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 lethargic state, with some in
dications, as the doctor thought. of in
ereasing the coilng family. The young
snakes coil around her, and under and
over her. and she seems to have for them
tie maternal affection of instinct. This
snake has been in captivity near four
months, yet during all that period she has
partaken oil nOl n ulOTstl Ol lbOA, anu
brooded her seven young. As 10 exactly
how long from inception the process of
CESSATION or incubation has been going on,
there is no means of asccrtainng, as we
can only date from her captivity.
Dr. Cotton informs us that he once before
kept in the same case large sized rattle
snake for three years and nine months,
and that he studied closely its 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. lie
then gave II mice, rats, etc., putting the
same into the case alive, and it commenced
devouring them voraciously. 1t never
would touch tame mouse or n dead one
| fresh as 1t might be. When "A young rat
| was put into the case it would plant its un-
| erring tang in some part of the limb or
| body, and then wait until il died from the
| thorough incubation of the poison. When
| quite dead ii would turn over. take il head
foremost and swallow it,, evidently draw
| ing nutriment from the poison its own
iangs had infused. 1t shed its skin twice
a year-each spring and autumn-a new
rattle appearing at each shedding, which
explodes the popular notion that but one
rattle comes year.