56 ON THE COMMON RINO-SN'AKE. 



by cart-wheels," he ^'looked into the rut, and saw the Snake and several 

 young ones, not very large;" he "stepped back to pick up a stone, still 

 keeping his eye upon the spot, when he saw the Snake glide out of the rut, 

 cross the roadway, and go into the hedge at the side. He then went to 

 the rut, and looked in, thinking to take the young Snakes; but to his "sur- 

 prise" he "saw none of thera." He searched for them in vain, and had no "doubt 

 but they must have been taken away by the old Snake swallowing them 

 ^pro tern.'" He "was quite sure" he "must have seen them had they remained 

 there, as he never once lost sight of the spot, although he did of the depth 

 of the rut." 



Now when Mr. Garland lost sight of the bottom of the rut, where he 

 saw the young Snakes, was it not possible for them to glide away and cun- 

 ningly hide themselves without his knowledge of their whereabouts? If he 

 had only drawn back a short distance, so as not to lose sight of the little 

 ones, why then he might be able to satisfy himself and his readers upon 

 the much mooted subject of the Snake's "swallowing her young," instead of 

 leaving it among the things that are doubtful. I certainly should have taken 

 advantage of such an opportunity as Mr. G. had, in settling once for all this 

 important question in the history of the Snake. For instead of walking 

 backwards in search of a stone to slaughter a harmless reptile — a fact which 

 Mr. G. might have known by his '^experience with them when a boy," I 

 should have endeavoured to obtain ocular proof whether the old Snake swallowed 

 the little ones, or whether she left them to take care of themselves. 



For my own part, I feel satisfied that the female Snake has nothing what- 

 ever to do with her young from the time they emerge from the eggs, till 

 they are full-grown, and certain it is that she disowns all maternal aflfection 

 for them then. I believe so because it would follow as a rule that if ever any 

 one single Snake was seen to swallow her young to hide them from intruders, 

 her congeners would be instinctively led to do the same thing; for nature is 

 not a partial bestower of her gifts, to lead any of the lower animals, untutored 

 by man, to act differently in their habits and economy to others of their 

 class, especially in the care of their young. 



"Undamped by time, the generous Instinct glows 

 Far as Angola's sands, as Zembla's snows; 

 Glows in tlie Tiger's den, the Serpent's nest, 

 On every form of varied life imprest." 



We see that the attention which a Cat or Dog pays to its young, is 

 common to the whole species. And it would likewise follow that if the 

 instinct attributed to the Snake of swallowing her young were true, it would 

 be of common occurrence, and might be witnessed by every one who would 

 deem it worthy of observation, I have met with many a young Snake from 

 three to six inches long, and no bigger round than a Crow's quill. I have 

 also watched them emerge from the eggs, and soon after distribute themselves 

 to the four quarters of the globe; a fact I think sufficient to set at rest the 



