. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 106 THE PUFF ADDER. " In a countiy so infested witli poisonous Snakes as are some portions of South Africa, it is surprising that there are not more instances of lives having been lost by this means. It is, however, as rare to hear of a person having been bitten and dying from the bite of a poisonous Snake in South Africa as it is to hear of a death in civilized countries from the bite of a mad dog. The fact, however, is that all Snakes vail, if possible, make their escajje when man
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 106 THE PUFF ADDER. " In a countiy so infested witli poisonous Snakes as are some portions of South Africa, it is surprising that there are not more instances of lives having been lost by this means. It is, however, as rare to hear of a person having been bitten and dying from the bite of a poisonous Snake in South Africa as it is to hear of a death in civilized countries from the bite of a mad dog. The fact, however, is that all Snakes vail, if possible, make their escajje when man approaches them, and it is merely when they are trodden upon, or are oijpressed by their own superabundant poison, that they are disposed to bite an anhnal unsuited for their food. "An infuriated Puff Adder presents a very unprepossessing appearance. I once saw a female of this species in a most excited state. She had been disturbed in her retreat under an old stump by some Kaffirs, who were widening the highroad through the Berea bush at K^atal. She had several young ones with her, and showed fight immediately she was discov- ered. The Kaffirs were determined to kill the whole family, but were fearful of approaching. PUFF ADDER. Yipera arUtam. her. Happening to pass at the time of the discovery, I organized a ring, and, procuring some large stones, directed the Kaffirs to open fire. After a few minutes the excited lady was killed, and she and her young were carefully buried in a retired locality, lest some bare-footed Kaffir might tread upon her head, and thus meet his ; There is certainly in nature no more fearful an object than a full-grown Puff Adder. The creature grovels on the sand, ^\-inding its body so as to bury itself almost wholly in the tawny soil, just leaving its fiat, cruel-looking head lying on the ground and free fi'om saud. The steady, malignant, stony glare of those eyes is absolutely freezing as the creature lies motion- less, confident in i
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