no SNAKES INCUBATE? 439 



in captivity.' He seemed also to infer that this proved 

 the boa to be viviparous instead of oviparous, as ' had 

 been always understood.' Having already known of cases 

 of abnormal, and also of postponed production of eggs 

 or of young, I ventured at the time to cite such cases 

 in Land and Water, July 7, 1877, adding: * We must not 

 too hastily conclude that because one boa constrictor 

 produced a family of lively young ones, this species is 

 invariably viviparous.' Also in the Field, July 14, 1877, I 

 suggested that * the circumstance might be received rather 

 as a further example of snakes breeding under abnormal 

 conditions,' — opinions further confirmed by subsequent 

 observations. 



The little fry were supplied with young mice, which they 

 constricted as if they had served an apprenticeship ; but 

 the mother left them entirely to themselves, and betrayed 

 no other unusual feelings than to hiss when disturbed. 

 When they were seven weeks old, they in one night ate 

 twenty- four mice and a few young rats between them. 

 They all cast their first coat before they were a week old. 

 The mother had been in the Gardens about eight years. 

 All but one of this fine family were alive in the following 

 November, and two are still living at the time of going to 

 press, viz. 'Totsey' (illus. p. 201) and one brother. 



The dates of these few following cases are a little 

 uncertain, also exactly how many survived of those that 

 were born. 



A 'seven-banded' snake {Trop. Icbcris) had six. 



A ' chicken snake ' {Col. exiinms). 



A 'moccasin snake' {Tropidoiiotus fasciatus) had nine 



