DO SNAKES INCUBATE? 451 



rubbish, leaves, etc., which must have been carried there. 

 Mr. Gosse does not pretend to affirm positively that the 

 snake constructed that secluded nest for itself. It mis^ht 

 have done so, pushing out the mould by the lateral undula- 

 tions of its body, as the burrowing snakes do, and carrying 

 back the soft trash in its mouth ; or, if it only chose a nest 

 formed by some other animal, this proved maternal care. 

 There were eggs in the nest, the shell being like 'white kid.' 

 ' On snipping one, a clear glaire exuded, in which was a 

 large, whitish vitellus, stained with blood vessels, and con- 

 taining a young snake seven inches long, but immature.' 

 One foetus writhed. The foetus being formed and capable 

 of motion, proved, Mr. Gosse thought, that the eggs had 

 been some time laid. Incubation is a characteristic of that 

 family, the author affirms. Of the various cases he knew, 

 one female boa brought forth eleven snakes. In another 

 snake that was killed, ten or twelve fully -formed youn^r 

 ones were found. 



One of these 'yellow boas' in a private collection dis- 

 played unusual restlessness and uneasiness, crawling about 

 its cage as if in search of something. Those who had the 

 care of it suspected that she was with eggs, and supplied her 

 with fine sand. This appeased her somewhat, and after 

 twirling herself around to form it into a kind of nest, she 

 laid some eggs. One of the same kind at the Gardens 

 accepted gratefully some soft cotton wool which a lady 

 brought for her and her young progeny, all of whom nestled 

 themselves in it contentedly and speedily. 



Two other noteworthy cases have to be recorded, but they 

 shall form the subject of the ensuing chapters. 



