THE PUFF ADDER. 



105 



Its general color is brown ; there are two dark brown spots on each side of the back of the 

 head, and a yellow streak runs between them. Upon the body are three rows of oblong brown 

 spots, edged with white. 



TIC-POIAJNGA, OE KATUKA.-ZtaAria degans. 



THE terrible PUFF ADDER is closely allied to the preceding species. 



This reptile is a native of Southern Africa, and is one of the commonest, as well as one of 

 the most deadly, of poisonous Snakes. It is slow and apparently torpid in all its movements, 

 except when it is going to strike, and the colonists say that it is able to leap backwards so 

 as to bite a person who is standing by its tail. Captain Drayson, who has seen much of 

 this reptile and its habits, has kindly forwarded to me the following short account of this 

 creature : 



" This formidable looking reptile is more dreaded than any other of the numerous poison- 

 ous Snakes in Africa, a fact" which mainly results from its indolent nature. Whilst other and 

 more active Snakes will move rapidly away upon the approach of man, the Puff Adder will 

 frequently lie still, either too lazy to move, or dozing beneath the warm sun of the south. 

 This reptile attains a length of four feet, or four feet six inches, and, some specimens may be 

 found even longer ; its circumference is as much as that of a man's arm. Its whole appear- 

 ance is decidedly indicative of venom. Its broad ace-of -clubs-shaped head, its thick body, 

 and suddenly tapered tail, and its chequered back, are all evidences of its poisonous nature. 

 It derives its popular name from its practice of puffing out or swelling the body when 

 irritated. 



VOL. HI.- 14. 



