Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-15
SNAKES SWALLOW THEIR YOUNG.

There has been a controversy for years
among naturalists relative to the ques-
ion: Do snakes swallow their young?
and there are many professors of hepet-
ology at the present day who ridicule the
idea. l have been cognizant of the fact
for over SO years. When a boy l began
my studies in herretology, and was not
satisfied with knowing the names of our
reptiles, but sought them in the fields and
swamIs and forests. l learned much of
their habits, and from time to time Kept
them in confinement, and AVE reared
many. Professor G. Brown GOoode of
the Smithsonian Institution read a very
interesting paper on the subject before
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science at Portland, Me-, in
August, 1873, which ought to have settled
the question.
The first time his came under my no.
tice was in July, 1880. l was roaming over
the fields, when | saw a gOOd-siZed gar
ter snake (Eutaenia sirtalis) very near
me, with numerous young ones around
her, AS L approached her she placed her
head fiat on the ground, opening her
mouth and making a peculiar noise; the
little ones evidently understood, for they
all ran into her o~esonhagus. [ picked
her up by the neck and put her IN a bag
and took her home. On examination l
found l had about 20 snakes, including
the mother. They were kept together in
a box, ard when I told the story to my
friends they ridiculed me. II was not long,
however, before every person in the house
was convinced of the truth of my aSse1-
tons, from witnessing the fact them
/ selves. "
l met with a curious incident some
years ago while hunting snakes in the
SWampS at MelrOse.. came across a male
and female striped snake, with numerous
young ones. The parents were near each
other, the family crawling over and
around them. l was going for them,
when, on second thought, l concluded to
watch them. They did not appear fright
ened, but went on ~gamboling about for
some time. l went a little nearer, when
both snakes turne toward me, making
a faint noise, placed their heads fiat on
the ground and received the young as
stated before. 1t was a curious sight to
see these young snakes, not lonS born,
some of them a foot or two away turn at
the noise, and instantly seek refuge. !
am certain it was q note of warning of
danger. | caught both snakes and put
them in separate bags. The female had
10 young ones and the male swallowed
five. This is the first instance of any no.
tice of a male snake performing this af-
fectionate duty for its young. l placed
the whole family in a box, where they
lived peaceably for q long time.
Mr.. Julian Hooper and myself encOun-
tered a large water snake (G. SipedOn)
on the banks of a small pond in Durham
swamp. | was about to capture her when
we saw a number of young entering her
mouth, and before I could strike her she
entered the pond. | Immediately sWep
the pond with my net, and in two OF
/ three mute captured her, but on eX-
animation could find no young. She had
evidently in that short space of time de-
posted them under some tussOck in the
bank, out Of harms way. What instinct
for the preservation of her young!
I have also seen the Eutaeni Saurita
Teterodon platyThinos and the Crotalus
hOrrida perform this act for their young
Some rattlesnakes kept in confinement
frequently did the same with their proges
ny when frightened. The beating of 4
drum near the case seemed to terrify thu
1 old ones, so that at the first tap thes
/, would secrete the young in the oeso2ha.
!, gus and vibrate their tails furiously, :nt
1 they would not release the little ones til
/ the noise ceased. l could relate nun err
L Gus instances | have seen when differen
species of snakes have thus protected
t their yOurC-FOIeSt and Stream.