. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. 90 OPHIDIAN EEPTILBS. as seen when it has newly shed its epidermis; but the asi^ect of its surprisingly broad, flat, and triangular-shaped head unmistakably betokens its terrific powers. Its head is remarkably massive. One peculiarity of the Puff-adders is that they sometimes hold on to their victim by their long fangs. Thus, of the common C. arietans Sir A. Smith remarks that " although generally inactive, it is by no means so when att
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. 90 OPHIDIAN EEPTILBS. as seen when it has newly shed its epidermis; but the asi^ect of its surprisingly broad, flat, and triangular-shaped head unmistakably betokens its terrific powers. Its head is remarkably massive. One peculiarity of the Puff-adders is that they sometimes hold on to their victim by their long fangs. Thus, of the common C. arietans Sir A. Smith remarks that " although generally inactive, it is by no means so when attacked—its movements are then bold and energetic, and when once it seizes the obnoxious object, it retains its hold with great determination, and some considerable exertion is often necessary to detach ; * The traveller Burchell remarks of this Snake that " its venom is said to be most fatal, taking eifect so rapidly as to leave the person who has the mis- fortune to be bitten no chance of saving his life, but by in- stantly cutting out the flesh surround- ing the wound. Although I have often met with this Fig. 23.—The Unadorned Puff-adder (C/o«D!«orn<i(a). Suakc " he adds, " yet, happily, no opportunity occurred of witnessing the eifects of its poison ; but, from the universal dread in which it is held, I have no doubt of its being one of the most venomous species of Southern Africa. There is a peculiaritj' which renders it more dangerous, and which ought to be known to every j^erson liable to fall in with it. Unlike the generality of Snakes, which make a spring or dart forward when irritated, the Pufl'-adder, it is said, throws itself backwards, so that those who should be ignorant of this fact would place themselves in the very direction of death, while imagining that by so doing thej- were escaping the danger. The nati^^es, hy keeping alwaj's in front, are eu- * In Chapman's "Travels in the Interior of South Africa" (vol ii. p. 59),
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectrep
