DO SNAKES REFUGE THEIR YOUNGS 499 



which is a performance we are never likely to witness. 

 For, in the first place, the young are often produced in mid- 

 day, in the presence of the crowd of visitors. Thus, from 

 their birth accustomed to publicity, they have not the motive 

 as when in their native haunts they are suddenly alarmed at 

 the first sight of an apparition in human form. And in the 

 second place, the young are generally removed at once into 

 a separate cage, and they lose all knowledge of their mother. 

 Both mother and progeny are familiar with humanity ; and 

 the former is much more likely at the sight of the keeper to 

 open her mouth for a mouse than to invite her children to 

 enter therein. 



In the foregoing portions of this volume I have been able 

 frequently to bring personal observations to verify what 

 books have taught me. With the present subject this 

 cannot be the case. I have neither seen a viper in the act 

 of giving refuge to her young ones by receiving them into 

 her mouth, nor have I ever had the circumstance described 

 to me by any one who has witnessed the proceeding. This 

 is not surprising, seeing that my studies have been prosecuted 

 almost entirely in London. For any information obtained 

 at the Gardens I am indebted solely to the keepers, whose 

 opportunities of observation when aided by intelligence 

 and experience merit the confidence of the inquirer. 



So astonishing a phase of ophidian habits — let us say 

 only reputed habits — was, however, to me one to excite 

 very special interest, as well as to induce inquiry and a 

 possible solution of the mystery ; and towards this solution 

 the facts related in chap. xxiv. and xxv. appear to me to 

 come foremost in our aid. 'AH snakes that are ovo- 



