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rattlesnake, but he had in no case seen a death. He often kept from 10 

 to 35 rattlesnakes together without any of them harming the others. If 

 a large snake were suddenly dropped on the others they would show no 

 resentment, whereas if any other animal were thus dropped on them it 

 would immediately get a blow. In captivity they are extremely sluggish, 

 not moving, and refusing for long periods to accept food. Usually, after 

 about a year without food, tliey will kill and eat animals?. Dp. Mitchell 

 fed his numerous specimens by putting a long funnel down their throaty 

 and pushing the food into their stomachs. They were very fond of water, 

 and would drink large quantities of it and lie in it for hours. 



They shed their skins at different times. If they did not have water 

 the skin would come off in patches. He ifays nothing about the relation 

 of the shedding of the pkin and the acquisition of new segments of the 

 rattle. It has been noted by observers that a variable number of segjnents 

 of the rattle is acquired each year, although the popular idea is that one 

 is the nun>ber. As high as four have been observed to be added in a 

 single year. The terminal segments, too, are constantly being worn off, 

 so that the number of segments present is no indication of the age of the 

 snake. 



On each side of the upper jaw is to be found a single fang, which is 

 solidly attached to the maxillary. These are probably shed at intervals, 

 and besides are liable to be torn out in use. Alongside of the functional 

 fang there may be found a number of reserve fangs, as high as seven 

 somenmes, the oldest of which moves into the place of the lost fang and 

 soon becomes ankylosed to the bone. Holbrook states that Mr. Peale, of 

 the Philadelphia Museum, kept a living female rattlesnake for fourteen 

 years. She had eleven rattles when she came into his possession. Several 

 were lost annually, and new ones formed. When she died there were 

 still eleven. During this period the snake had grown four inches in 

 length. 



This snake, like all the Crotalidce, brings forth its young alive. The 

 number appears to be about nine. I found this number of eggs in a 

 female 37 inches long, brought from Pennsylvania. The eggs were 1.5 

 inches long by an inch in short diameter. Of these there were four in the 

 left oviduct. There were evidences that development had begun. 



Where these snakes are numerous they are inclined to gather in con- 

 siderable numbers in caverns in rocks and similar places, in order to 

 undergo their winter sleep. Such places form the rattlesnake dens about 

 which we hear occasionally. 



