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Milk Snake — Part 2
In captivity this snake is indifferent in feeding and seldom lives long. It prefers mice, which are quickly constricted to death in the reptile's strong coils. Young specimens can seldom be induced to take food of any character. Although rather a quiet reptile, the Milk Snake will sometimes resent handling in a curious and rather treacherous manner. Without a pretence of striking it will swing the head about suddenly and grasp the hand, when it deliberately chews in such a manner that the fine, recurved teeth lacerate the flesh sufficiently to bring the blood, although the minute punctures are but very superficial wounds and heal at once, like a scratch from a pin point.
The breeding habits of this species represents those of the typical oviparous--egg-laying--snakes. From the notes that follow these characters are well illustrated.
A specimen taken near Englewood, New Jersey, and measuring 31 inches in length, deposited eight eggs, on the 10th of July. The eggs were oval, with a leathery shell, and presented the same soft and white external appearance as the surface of a toadstool. This batch of eggs was placed in damp wood-pulp. At regular intervals one was taken from the lot and opened, in order to observe the growth of the embryos. During the process of of incubation care was taken to keep the eggs from "drowning"--absorbing too much moisture. They solidify if kept too damp. A list of the results is given:
July 10th. Eggs deposited. Symmetrically oval in shape; length, 1 1/8 inches--diameter, 1/2 an inch. On opening one of these eggs it was found to contain a tightly coiled embryo, two inches long, with well-developed head and eyes well discernible.
July 19th. The eggs are irregular and lumpy in outline. Length, 1 1/4 inches--greatest diameter, 13/16 of an inch. One opened; contained embryo 3 1/4 inches long. When the same is closely examined the formation of the scales can be plainly seen. The specimen is translucent and when held against the light the heart may be seen beating in lively fashion.
Aug. 6th. Another of the eggs opened; it contains an embryo 4 3/8 inches long, and much less translucent than that of the preceding observation. The scalation is well formed, but no pattern is apparent.
Sept. 4th. The remaining eggs about to hatch. The young snakes have cut openings in the shells and occasionally protrude the tip of the snout for air.
Sept. 5th. All of the young snakes have emerged. They are 7 3/4 inches in length, and 3/16 of an inch in diameter at the thickest part of the body. In pattern they are like the adult, though the blotches on the back are of a more reddish tinge. About three hours after hatching they shed their skins. At the time of hatching the eggs are nearly twice the size than when laid.
Another specimen deposited eleven eggs on the 12th of July, which were adherent in a cluster. This female was found coiled about the eggs--thus gathering them tightly together. The same habit was observed with several specimens. The brood in question hatched between September 6th and 8th. (Illustration, female and eggs.
A fine specimen taken but a week previously near Ft. Lee, New Jersey, laid nine eggs on July 28th. This female remained coiled about the cluster for twenty-four hours. The young snakes emerged on October 1st, 2d, and 3d.
The writer has examined a remarkable two-headed individual of this species, which creature fed upon very young mice. However, the two heads had energetic quarrels for priority in swallowing, although both throats led to a single channel connecting with one stomach. In progressing there was a tendency for the two heads to disagree, and locomotion was slow and erratic. The movements of the heads were entirely independent of each other. While one would be gazing about, with quivering tongue, the other might be quiescent. This unique reptile lived for about a year, actually growing to about two-thirds the length of an adult specimen.