The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-05-15
RATTLEsNAKEs.

About the 10th OF May last, DR.. Cotton
caught, at Prospect, in Giles county, Tennes-
see, rattlesnake tour feet three inches long
and FIVE inches in circumference. When cap
tured, it had eight rattles and button. Since
that time il has been confined in glass case.
It has not partaksn Of one particle Of food,
though it has been tempted with mice and 9th
toned to feed. The snake maDifested no un-
easiness from ito confinement, nor did it lose
any in size or bodily vitality. IT. eyes con.
tinued to glisten like magnetic steel, and it,
lancinating fangs to protrude at tho appear
ance of any one near tho case. DR.. Cotton
thought all tho while it was . 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 scaIy
hide. the serpent refused to give them notice
or partake Of food. On two or three occasions
it has partaken OF small quantities Of water.
One day at one o'clock, on going into the back
room of the store, where the case IL kept, it
was discovered that tho 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 appear
ance one at q time, and in coiled or striking
omed tongues continually each darting out.
The young ones are from nine to fifteen inches
in length. and in . state of perfect develop
ment. They are quick of motion. and possess
no ordinary spinal vitality, 40 they crawl read
lily to the top Of the case, with celebrity across,
and around it from end to end. What 10 most
singular, and contrary to all the received no.
tions concerning the reptile, each Of these
snakes has full button on the tail, which 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 case 10
lethareic state, with somA indications, ~ tho
doctor thought. Of increasing the coiling family.
The young snakes coil around her, and under
and over her; she seems to have for them the
maternal affection Of instinct. This snake has
been in captivity near four months. yet during
all that period she has not partaken Of NOR
sci Of food, and she brooded her seven young.
Az to exactly how long from inception the pro-
cess of CESSATION OF incubation has been going
on, there is no means of ascertaining, - we
can only date from her captivity. DR.. Cotton
informs us that he once before kept in the
same case large.sized rattlesnake for three
years and nine months, and that he studied
closely its various moods and changes. This
snake, he says, did not partake Of . particle
OF food for the 6rst nine months, and but little
water He then gave it mice. rats, etc, put
ting the same into the case alive, and it COM
menced devouring them voraciously. It never
would touch q tame mouse. or . dead one,
fresh ~ 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
wait until it died from the thorough inoculation
Of the poison. When quite dead. it would turn
it over, take it head foremost, and swallow it,
evidently drawing nutriment from the poison
it's own fangs had infused. 1t shed ito skin
twice year-each spring and autumn-a new
rattle appearing at each shedding, which ex-
plodes the popular notion that but one rattle
comes year-Appleton's Journal.