Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-08
SAVING THEIR YOUNG.



tackled by Enemies.
| have, on ut least four occasions
stood by and witnessed family of
young snakes disappear down the
throat of the mother. She did not
swallow them; she just lay straight
with open mouth and allowed the
youngsters to go down her gullet with
wonderful rapidity.
On such occasions the mother snake
Of most wild things when trying to
save their young. She will remain
| quiet at the risk Of her life until the
last little wriggler has been taken in.
and then do her best to escape. And
it slways seems to be the case that at
such times she happens to be mighty
handy to good hiding place, such as
a ledge of rocks, a hole among roots,
or, if a watersnake, where she can flop
into the water in an instant. Pre-
missing that | was taught from my
earliest recollection to regard serpcnts
as not only harmless and useful, but
beautiful as well (all save the rattler),
III pIiShy otS VIZ AAi>AeS'o'
above alluded to:
In the first case l was called by n
sensible mother who admired rather
. than feared serpents, Ito come and
see the little snakes hide l hurried
Q to the spot, and this is what ! saw: A
;. large garter-snake stretched to Its
' full length and lot Of tiny snakes
J, rapidly disappearing down her throat.
q NV mother meantime had united hel
4 apron, and, as the last little snake
disappeared, she quickly grabbed the
20 old snake and enveloped 1t in thu
= apron 1t was taken to the house ant
placed in IN old lumber chest, wher,
a it was found the next day with twent.
|. odd little ones around it, and agail
!. they took refuge in the mothers stom
, ach. As our curiosity was satisfied
R tho old snake was turned out in tn
L. garden to catch bugs Take note tina
al the garter-snake is oviparous
Although snakes were very numel
s Gus in the region whore my boyboo
~ was spent, and though most of IN
!. leisure time was passed In outing b
as flood and field, it was long before
-, saw second incident OF the kind, an
as this time the actors were watersnake
NV supposed 10 be viviparous. Il sa
IL suppose. for am by no means ccrtai
nd of it, The mother snake was abo'
,st the largest / ever saw, and | can
IN upon her suddenly as l was tishir
he down trout stream, very cautiousl
of course 1t was evidently a surpris
- hut she Strengthened herself, gave
~ short, low hiss, and lay still with OPP
g. - mouth. In much less time than
-. takes TO tell it, a lot Of little snak
~ .ings were rushing into her mouth a
tba disappearing with marvellous quie
ness At that time | was accustom
7 TO handling scrpents, even rattle
/. without fear, and with some vague i'd
-, that she would be prize, mad,
-, dash to capture her alive. 1t "
y, rath u, a failure. Instead of attem
r. ire to dart overheard, as | expect,
noa 81 faced me savagely, and, as
rabbed her with one hand around
body, she whisked her tail about
arm, turned, ana gave me vicit
bite on the back of the hand.
though knew the bite was perfec
harmless, it somehow looked so wicl
any and dangerous that | lost my grip {
10" allowed her to escape. 1t may
lay' worthy of mention that the sill
wound did not swell or become
the famed and healed quickly.