HERPETOLOGY OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN. 383 



rare as might be supposed. De Betta records other instances 

 with lizards, Vipera aspis, Trojndonotus natrioc, and one with 

 Anguis fragilis. They were all young specimens, and lived but a 

 short time ; in the last-named case one head survived the other 

 by about two hours. More recently an interesting account has 

 appeared in an American journal of a double-headed Tortoise, 

 whose two heads performed independently the functions of eating, 

 sleeping, breathing, &c, and appeared also to possess different 

 temperaments. 



This snake can sometimes be seen nodding its head, as 

 lizards often do, with a sort of contemplative expression. It 

 was perhaps from noticing this attitude that the observing 

 ancients first called it drakon, the animal which looks or regards, 

 rather than solely on account of the brilliancy of its eyes. 



And while I am digressing, I may call attention to another 

 point, viz., the signs of attachment to the young or the eggs 

 evinced by this class of animals, instances of which have been 

 given at various times. It appears certainly remarkable that an 

 animal so comparatively low down in the scale should show any 

 care for its offspring ; yet we have the frequently quoted testi- 

 mony of Dr. Settari, who watched a Coronella feeding its young 

 with small lizards, which it had previously swallowed. The 

 evidence as to Adders and other snakes allowing their young 

 ones to retreat into their mouth ("swallowing their young") 

 when alarmed by sudden danger, has now become too over- 

 whelming to admit of doubt. Eeferring to the care of eggs, 

 there are accounts of large storages of eggs discovered in cavities 

 of the ground, which appear to have been simultaneously and 

 purposely laid there by a number of individuals ; and we have 

 further the occasional congregating of snakes in masses— notably 

 Vipera berus — during the breeding season, which is important as 

 leading possibly to these large deposits of eggs. Gene observed 

 a similar gathering of more than two hundred Coronella austriaca, 

 as well as, not far distant, four assemblies of other snakes, which 

 met at the same time and place for eight consecutive years : — 

 "E rivedendo per varii anni de seguito quei luoghi, rividi gli 

 stessi amori e gli stessi innarnorati."* 



As regards the further distribution of this Coluber in Germany, 



* Cited by Leydig, ' Einlieiimsclie Schlangen.' 



