In Oct. 1866 the question was revived by Mr. Thomas Rider, who wrote to the Field newspaper that on September 21st he had seen a number of little vipers about three inches long run down their mother’s throat. His account was followed by a number of letters from various persons, who very lamely tried to convince him that his eyes had deceived him; that what he had seen was the wriggling tongue, and a good deal more of such feeble talk, which Mr. Rider took in gentlemanly good-humour. He further described that at first he clearly saw the young ones at a distance from the parent; that, the latter being killed, the young were found within her; that in carrying her, two of them had fallen out of her mouth; that he felt quite sure that what he stated was correct. His description was so graphic and evidently truthful that the distinguished naturalist Thomas Bell wrote also to the Field to express his great satisfaction at so authentic an account, confirming his own previous impressions. ‘I did not doubt the fact before,’ he said, in the Field of October 27th, 1866, ‘but such an attestation as this from such an authority’ (an educated country gentleman) ‘must be considered as settling the question.’
For the next few weeks in the Natural History columns of the Field a number of letters from various persons appeared, the majority taking up the cudgels to resent the insult offered to Mr. Rider and the eminent herpetologist Thomas Bell, F.L.S., F.R.S., and one of the Council of the Zoological Society; and to quote still other cases of viper-swallowing. ‘Only a purblind, stupid person,’ wrote one of them, ‘could possibly mistake young vipers for a tongue.’
J. Scott Hayward, Esq. of Folkington, Sussex, wrote that three of his men while haymaking found a viper, and one of them crushed its head with his boot. A young viper ‘scrabbled’ about his boot after its mother. They then cut off the viper’s head, and seven young vipers crawled out at the neck. The other had been too late, but was evidently trying to follow the rest. There was no possibility of mistaking seven little vipers for one hair-like tongue in this case; but a man ‘convinced against his will,’ etc., and therefore the editor again abruptly closed the subject.
Of the hundred or more instances occurring in America, and now presented to the assembly, those considered of especial interest were published in the Reports of the Association; and after some further discussion Professor Gill said that he considered the evidence sufficient to finally decide the matter. ‘Since many important facts in biology are accepted on the statements of one single observer, these testimonies are claimed to be sufficient to set the matter for ever at rest.’
This was the conclusion arrived at by the members of the American ‘Science Convention on Snakes,’ in 1873.
Of the witnesses introduced on that occasion, Professor Goode dismissed those who had only found the young snakes within the parent, but had not seen them enter. ‘Let us not trust to untrained observations,’ he said; those whose testimony was accepted being, in addition to the well-known men already mentioned—‘an intelligent class of farmers, planters, and business men, intelligent readers of an agricultural magazine.’ ... ‘The well-attested cases included many non-venomous species, the habit probably extending to all those which are known as oviparous, as well as the Crotalidæ. The examples embraced the garter snake, Eutania sirtalis and E. saurita; the water snake, Tropidonotus sipedon; the rattlesnake, Caudisona horridus; the copper-head and moccasin, Ancistrodon contortrix and piscivorus; the “Massasauga,” Crotalus tergiminus; the English viper, Pelias berus; and the mountain black snake, Coluber Alleghaniensis. Probably all the Crotalidæ might be included. It remains to be shown whether the habit extends to the egg-laying snakes, but as yet no proof had occurred. The Professors then present invited still further observations and reports, affirming that the breeding habits of more than twenty-five of the North American genera were entirely unknown.’
The following are a few of the cases recorded.
A ‘water moccasin’ (probably Ancistrodon piscivorus) had been seen for several days unwelcomely close to a southern residence. A gentleman wishing to entice her away from the water so as the better to kill her, had a rabbit placed near, which by and by she seized and had nearly swallowed, when those on the watch made a noise to alarm her. She quickly disgorged it, gave a shrill whistling noise, and five young snakes ran from under a log down her throat. The men cut off her head and found the five young which tried to get away.
‘A farmer who was mowing saw a number of little snakes and a large one. He went a short distance to fetch a fork to kill them, and on his return found only the large one left. He struck it on the back, and seven ran out of her mouth.’
‘Another farmer saw a “striped snake,” and noticed a number of young ones near to her head. He alarmed them, and the young ones rushed in at her open mouth. He stepped back and watched to see what next would happen, when presently some of them came out. He killed the mother, and all the rest ran out.’