

NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 555 
sexes. I have examined a slates number and found in every case 3 at the 
mals copulate the reason of this peculiar elongation of the claws of the 
male is obvious. — C. J. MAYNARD. 
ROLIFIC SNAKES. — Various accounts of prolific snakes, from Lan- 
caster County, have come to me during the present season. On the 6th 
of August a female eran iratis yum platyrhinus, commonly known in 
this locality as the ** Blow or P: owing Viper," was killed in Martic 
d 
from six to eight inches in length, came forth,*all very active, all blow- 
ing, and flattening their bodies, as is common in the adult individuals of 
this species. Sixty-three of these young snakes were brought to me ina 
bottle of alcohol, thirteen were too much lacerated to make good speci- 
T 
mens, and t nder made their escape before they ener be secured. 
We know this species to be ovi e question now arises again, 
ou 
* Do female snakes, in certain contingencies, swallow their young?" as 
has so often been confidently asserted, and as often and as strenuously 
denied. r. Lehman, an intelligent farmer, who was present at the 
rous,” as it is sometimes called. — S. S. RaTHVON, Lancas Ster, Pa. 
THE HALIOTIS og PEARLY Ear SHELL.—In an article, with the above 
title, in the July number of the ‘NATURALIST, referring to the geographi- 
cal distribution of the Haliotides, I have stated as a remarkable fact, that 
was kindly shown by Count Portales, among other material, a specimen 
of Haliotis (some one and one-half inches long) dredged, living, by him in 
the Gulf Stream between Florida and Cuba; this is the first instance of 
the occurrence of the Haliotis upon the Eastern side of the American 
Continents. — R. E. C. STEARNS. 
Cow DEVOURING THE PLACENTA.— In the June number of the Nat- 
T, in the Scandinavian compte rendu, some investigations in regard 
to animals devouring their after-birth are referred to as novel and inter- 
esting. If this be the case, I suppose individual testimony to the same 
effect may be worth something, and I write to say that I once knew a cow 
to devour her after-birth, at least so much of it as she was permitted to 
eat. I have also known cats to go a step farther, and devour the new- 
born litter. — P. 
