. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. 90 OPHIDIAN EBPTILES. as seen when it has newly shed its epidermis; but the aspect 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
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. 90 OPHIDIAN EBPTILES. as seen when it has newly shed its epidermis; but the aspect 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 effect so rapidly as to leave the person who has the mis- fortune to be bitten no chance of saAang his life, but by in- stantly cutting out the flesh surround- ing the wound. Although I have often met with this Fig. 22—The Unadorned Puff-adder (CTotAo inoniate). Snake" he adds " yet, happily, no opportunity occurred of witnessing the effects of its poison ; but, from the universal dread in which it is held, I have no doubt of its being, one of the most venemous species of Southern Africa. There is a peculiarity which renders it more dangerous, and which ought to be known to every person liable to fall in with it. Unlike the generality of Snakes, which make a spring or dart forward when irritated, the Puff-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 they were escaping the danger. The natives, by keeping always in front, are en- * In Chapman's "Travels in the Interior of South Africa" (vol. ii. p. 59), we read—"
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