174 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



On the whole, then, not having seen the act of 

 swallowing the young, and having tried to survey 

 in a spirit of impartiality the objections brought 

 against the belief, what is the conclusion ? Speaking 

 for myself, I decline to come to a definite opinion. I 

 have been told that such an attitude is simply begging 

 the question. On the contrary, I maintain that it is 

 the only scientific attitude one can take up on this or 

 any other question, if the evidence seems to be incon- 

 clusive. Why should any one be expected to hold 

 definite opinions on matters he considers unproved, 

 even if they be possibly or probably true ? I do 

 not feel bound to form or express a definite opinion 

 on the stability or otherwise of the Peruvian Govern- 

 ment simply because I have two friends, one of whom 

 thinks it the strongest that has existed for years, and 

 the other is convinced that it is tottering to its founda- 

 tions. I simply await events, in order to see which 

 opinion turns out the correct one, keeping an open 

 mind on the subject, and not refusing to weigh evi- 

 dence whichever way it leads. Similarly in the 

 adder-swallowing question, T do not refuse to believe 

 it because I have not been fortunate enough to see it 

 for myself (the combined evidence of the community 

 has to be sufficient on many questions not coming 

 under our individual notice), nor do I feel bound 

 to accept every statement made by all sorts of people 

 (or one would have many extraordinary beliefs). But 

 it may be fairly asked, What would be considered 



