DO SNAKES REFUGE THEIR YOUNG 1 505 



themselves in her coils. These may have been at a more 

 advanced age, and had ceased to enter the mouth. 



It is remarkable that hitherto, excepting in Pelias berns, 

 we hear of this maternal display as peculiar to America 

 only. Whether a more intimate acquaintance with the 

 snakes of other countries will reveal new instances in the 

 course of time, we cannot conjecture. It is to be wished 

 that observations on this head may be published, and 

 investigations encouraged ; or in the minds of the million, 

 the maternal cesophagal refuge will still be classed among 

 the fables. 



Taking it for granted, then, in deference to the American 

 ' Convention,' that snakes do offer refuge to their young, it 

 is curious to speculate as to how the habit originated and 

 became a confirmed one. Maternal instincts have, without 

 doubt, been strong from the first ; and we must suppose that 

 similar dangers to those which induce a snake now to 

 summon her young ones had also been the cause of postponed 

 functions in the mother, and that hers were precocious 

 little reptiles before they ever saw light. 



Because we cannot assume that in a state of security an 

 oviparous snake would ' retard its laying ' and become ovovi- 

 viparous or viviparous ; nor that a viper would intentionally 

 retain her young until their fangs were developed (see p. 

 360), so that they should be able to take care of themselves ; 

 or a rattlesnake till its young had rattles as well as fangs 

 (see p. 299), these being the principal species which do shelter 

 their young. And the habit must have had a beginning ; 

 there must have been some training, some development of 

 instinct, to lead up to what we now see, viz. a snake 



