DO SNAKES REFUGE THEIR YOUNG 1 491 



the edition of 1851, the editor Jesse, himself a naturalist, 

 took pains to ascertain facts concerning vipers, and he 

 believed in the evidence given him. He had found vipers in 

 their mother's 'stomach' (he does not say oviduct) 'of a 

 much larger size (seven inches) than they would be when 

 first excluded.' 



(In the later editions of the History of Selborne, it is much 

 to be regretted that doubts are again thrown on the subject ; 

 and this in face of the opinions of men of eminence, who 

 had written from observation, and had physiologically shown 

 the possibility of such a refuge.) 



Mr. Putnam also quoted Mr. M. C. Cooke, the author of 

 Our Reptiles, and at that time editor of Science Gossip, 

 Here is a herpetologist well able to form an unbiassed 

 opinion, and who in his work says on this question : * Men 

 of science and repute, clergymen, naturalists, in common 

 with those who make no profession of learning, have 

 combined in this belief. Add to these, gentlemen whose 

 statements in other branches of natural history would not be 

 doubted.' Among them were Henry Doubleday, Esq. of 

 Epping, a well-knov/n entomologist ; the Rev. H. Bond, of 

 South Pellerton, Somerset ; T. H. Gurney, of Calton Hall, 

 Norwich, a well-known ornithologist ; and several others of 

 similar scientific standing. 



Curiously, no one appears to doubt a similar maternal 

 instinct as displayed in our little native lizard, Zootica 

 vivipara ! Mr. Doubleday related the case of one being 

 accidentally trodden upon, when three young ones ran out of 

 her mouth. It was immediately killed and opened, and two 

 others that had been too much injured by the foot to make 



