Lies cae ET 
ita 
DO SNAKES SWALLOW THEIR YOUNG? 135 
experimenting on animals that come in their way, to try the 
temper of the snake, which he did by teazing it with a stick. 
This amusement, in a short time, apparently made the snake 
sick, and the “bunch” was observed to move towards the 
head. Ina few moments more a live frog* was seen trying 
to get out of the snakes mouth, which, after a hard trial and 
a good many jerks and kicks, it succeeded in doing, and 
jumped off highly delighted at making its escape from such 
close and uncomfortable quarters. This little incident proves 
that a frog can live a considerable time in the csophagus 
of a snake; and any one desirous of witnessing the power 
which snakes have of maintaining life under equally trying 
circumstances, need only attempt to drown one, or kill it by 
placing it in a tight jar. If, instead of making the cruel 
experiment, the reader will take our word for it we can as- 
sure him that snakes have been known to live for some time 
immersed in water, and “bottled up” in alcohol. 
Thus, with the above facts before us, what reason have 
we to doubt that young snakes can live in the dilatable throat 
of their mother long enough for her to carry them to a place 
of safety? and why should not young snakes have this 
means of protection given to them? It is really a provision 
no more wonderful than that with which young kangaroos, 
opossums, and other marsupial mammals are provided in 
the pouch of their mothers; or the young pipe-fishes and 
Sea-horses in the singular pouch or abdominal fold of their 
thers, into which the young go for protection or for 
rest. + 
One might easily believe, that, if the old snake should 
take the young into her throat in a moment of danger, she 
might afterwards, on being pressed by hunger, be strongly 
tempted to work them down a little farther and provide her- 
Self with a good dinner already at hand, especially as large 

* Rana palustris. i 
a. Ihave seen the young of our common Pipe-fish (Syngnathus Peckianus), p sog 
aquarium, go in and out of the “pouch” of the male fish. 

