Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/151

Rh about six weeks or two months: there can be no doubt, however, that the duration of this period must depend upon the temperature to which the animal is exposed. They are produced in June or July. The number of young ones produced at one birth varies from seven to twelve or thirteen. When brought forth, they are from eighteen to twenty-two lines in length. The young become very active almost immediately after their birth, and soon learn to feed upon small soft insects, and probably small worms, snails, or slugs.

"The shedding of its skin is performed by this species in the same manner as by most of the true Ophidians. It is, in fact, taken off in one piece, when the animal is at liberty and strong enough to effect this; and, like the others, it leaves its skin turned inside out, attached to the brushwood, or other substance which it has employed to entangle or secure it as it was coming off. It is, however, stated, that in some cases it is inverted only as far as the vent, and that the tail slips out of its covering 'like a sword out of its scabbard.