The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-09-03

Provinces, containing valuable evidence in
the case. \ farmer in Mechanicsburg
Ohio, wrote 'In 1885 saw on the bank
of Deer Creek a large water-snake. [
procured pole for the purpose of killing
her. One stroke slightly wounded her and
she Immediately made for the water after
she had swan about her length, she wheeled,
placing her underjaw just out of the edge
of the water then, opening her mouth to
the fullest extent, some dozen young snakes,
three to four inches long seemed to run, or
rather swim, down her throat after which
she clumSily turned in search of hiding
place | opened her and found about
twenty living young snakes-two or three
seven or eight inches long
A letter from Chesterfield, n H., CON
tanned the following: Il saw striped
snake on the hillside, and noticed some
thing moving about her head, and
counted twenty little snakes from one and
half to two inches long. made a move,
and the old one opened her mouth, and
they went in out of sight | stepped back
and waited, and in few moments they be-
gan to come out Then | made for the old
snake and killed her, and forced out
several"
A gentleman in Georgetown, s. c.,
wrote that while trying to capture a large
moccasin, ''she gave shrill, whistling noise,
and five young snakes ran from under LOG,
and ran down the throat of the old one
We cut off her head, and found the five
young ones, which made efforts to get
away"
\ farmer in Rosendale, n Y, wrote
Il was one day moving, and, coming close
to smooth, fiat rock, | thought I saw as
many as dozen snakes on it, | ran for
fork which was standing within few yards,
and, when | came back, there was only one
snake on the rock. | struck it on the
back, and seven snakes ran out Of the
mouth"
a farmer in NewburyPort, Mass, wrote
that he saw large striped snake summing
itself on rock On making 4 movement.
"Thc old snake opened her mouth wide,
the little snakes ran down her throat, and
then she disappeared in the shelving rock
| repeated the experiment number Of
days, to the same effect"
Such is the tenor of the testimony which
Mr.. Brown secured from unframed OBJ
servers TO confirm this evidence he re-
ceived concurrent statements from number
Of naturalists and men of science Prof.
Sydney L. Smith, of the Sheffield Scientific
School, "saw a ribbon-snake about two feet
long, accompanied by two young ones of
three or four inches. On a hiss from the
parent they disappeared down its throat
The parent was killed and two ran out of
the mouth while third was found alive
in the body" DR. Edward Palmer, when
in Paraguay with the Water -witch"
expedition, saw some seven young rattle
snakes run into their parents mouth
After it was killed they all ran out These
snakes, parent and brood, are preserved in
the United States National Museum,
Washington. 4 multitude of strong evi-
dence ike this was accumulated by Mr.
Brown and considered by him conclusive
proof that certain species Of snakes are in
the habit Of swallowing their young for
their protection in case Of danger. DR.. !
Jeffries Nyman, Prof Gill and other
declare ther is no reason why
the young snakes rlay not live for a time
within the stomach of the parent 1t is
difficult to smother reptile and it is well
known that the gastric tissue acts feebly
upon living tissues.