382 FORTY- FOUR YEARS Of 



dies in July, in October discovered the young snakes in 

 their bodies when they entered their dens, and in April 

 found the young ones entirely by themselves, the conclu- 

 sion above stated has been forced upon me. It must be 

 remembered, however, that I have never seen the old snake 

 deposit her eggs ; nor have I ever seen her swallow her 

 young ; but I only drew my conclusions from the facta 

 just set forth. Certain it is, however, that the young 

 of the garter-snake (which is a common and well-known 

 species, by no means dangerous, of which I shall say but 

 a few words, as little notice is generally taken of them), 

 when in danger, run to the mother, which receives them 

 into her mouth and swallows them, thus shielding them 

 from harm. 



But to return to the rattlesnake. It has large teeth in 

 the upper jaw, and some have two long fangs, while others 

 possess four. Those with four fangs have two on each 

 side, directly behind which stand two others, so that when 

 they strike at an enemy they make four cuts. These teeth 

 are exceedingly sharp and strong, with crooked points ; 

 and about an eighth of an inch from the sharp point a 

 small hole is perceptible in each tooth as soon as it grows 

 to any size. That little hole passes up the tooth, and con- 

 nects with a larger hollow in the hind-part of the tooth, 

 which cavity, in a large snake, is about the size of a com- 

 mon straw ; beneath which, at the base of the tooth, lies 

 a little bag, containing the poison. As the snake strikes, 

 he elevates his upper jaw, drives his teeth in, and then 

 presses his jaw down. This pressure, acting upon the base 

 of the tooth, forces the poison out of the bag, through the 

 tooth, into the gashes made by the sharp points, and the 

 wound is completed. 



Having shown how they make the wound, it will not be 

 amiss, perhaps, to mention some of the remedies used. If 

 the bite be in a place that will admit of it, cut out the 



