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CHAPTER XIL 
THE ADDER—Continued. 
SWALLOWING THE YOUNG FOR PROTECTION. 
THEORY STATED—OBJECTIONS ADVANCED—EXAMINATION OF 
VALIDITY OF OBJECTIONS. 
THE next question for consideration is that bone of 
contention in adder politics—namely, whether the 
adder-mother does or does not swallow her family. 
There is a very widespread belief (found wherever 
adders oecur) that the adder-mother will on the ap- 
proach of danger take her young into some part of 
her interior by the act of swallowing, and will there 
retain them till such time as they can safely be 
ejected again to the exterior. It is astonishing what 
bitter disputes arise over the discussion of this matter ; 
and I have heard two people holding opposite views 
on the righteousness of the Boer war arene that 
question politely, when on the conversation turning 
to the swallowing theory they became violently 
