  By integrating a set of model equations for Josephson ladder subjected to a
uniform transverse bias current we have found almost all of the kinds of
breathers described in recent experiments, and closely reproduced their
voltage-current characteristics and switching behaviour. Our main result is
that a chaotic transient occurs in the switching process. The growth of tiny
perturbations during the chaotic transient causes the new breather
configuration to be extremely sensitive to the precise history of the initial
breather and can also cause the new breather to have a new centre of symmetry.
