OCR Text |
Show 1S87-] MR. E. SYiMONDS ON SOUTH-AFRICAN SNAKES. 489 Head flattened, triangular. Neck narrower than the base of head, flattened out like a hood when disturbed. Teeth.-One palatine row on each side of the upper jaw; in front, on each side of upper jaw, a conical hollow tooth, immovable, slightly curved, and partially covered by the gum, which is apparently retractile ; lower jaw with one row on each side. Behind the jaws is situated, one on each side, a gland or bag containing a jelly-like fluid, with a duct leading to the large tooth in the upper jaw ; the lining membrane of this gland is rather gelatinous ; on pressing the gland fluid oozes out of the tooth ; tbe gland, which is almond-shaped, rounded at the posterior end, lies between two small muscles, the fibres of which cross one another, apparently acting as an ejector or compressor. Pupils circular. Colour.-Back a dull slaty black; belly bright glossy black, with two white bands, the first 6 inches from the nose, consisting of about four shields, beyond which the white colour does not extend, these are followed by four black shields, and then by the second white band consisting of about five shields; the shields below the vent are double. Habits.-This is one of the commonest Snakes about Kroonstad ; it often does not move until it is approached pretty closely, when it will creep into a hole if not molested, but if frightened stands up with neck much dilated, and if, in trying to hit it, you miss it, it comes straight at you rather rapidly and will spit with remarkable accuracy for your face ; one that I caught alive spat 5 feet. The fluid seems acrid and may blister slightly on a tender skin; if it goes into the eye, it occasions a good deal of smarting for perhaps a day. These* Snakes are said to be very poisonous, but I know of no authenticated case of any one being bitten, and, according to my experience of several live ones that I have had, they very rarely bite, but always spit until the saliva is exhausted. On several occasions I gave them live mice for food, and they have spat at them until their fur was quite wet; but only on one occasion did one of them bite a mouse, and then the mouse rolled over dead instantly. They would not eat a mouse, but seemed very fond of frogs; they are also rather fond of hen's eggs, and I have seen them curled up on a nest of eggs. These Snakes do not strike with very great rapidity, and certainly not with the accuracy of a Puff-Adder (which is not only most accurate but also strikes with fearful rapidity). They grow to a good size, the largest I have seen being nearly 6 feet long; the younger ones are of a -<rey-brown colour mottled with black. They generally live in holes," but sometimes take to water and swim well. Their Dutch name is " Ringhals." |