Dr Smith 07i the Snakes of Southern Africa. 251 



ground colour of the tail is generally darker than that of the body, and more 

 distinctly intersected by several narrow regular and continuous yellow bands, 

 which extend round the greater part of its circumference. Colour below, 

 as well as on the inferior parts of the sides, bright yellow, some of the 

 scuta and squamae, however, variously marked towards their extremities 

 by black spots. Head much depressed and mottled above by black, yel- 

 low, and brown. Generally posterior to each eye, just over the place 

 where the jaws dilate behind, there is a large blackisib blotch, with a yel- 

 low centre, and also before and between the eyes is usually observed a 

 transverse black band, dotted more or less with yellow. The eyes are 

 situated well forward and high up on the head, the nostrils are large, and 

 placed close to the edges of the upper lip. The scales with which the 

 head is covered, as well as those on the body, are ovate, imbricate and 

 carinated : The nose and lateral parts before the eyes are covered with irre- 

 gular flattened, granular-like bodies. Body diminishes suddenly and consider- 

 ably in size at the commencement of the tail, which is slender for the size of 

 the make, and measures about ^th of the whole length, which is usually from 

 three feet to three and a half. The neck is considerably narrower than 

 either the body or the head. Its motion is moderately quick, its disposi- 

 tion fiery, and its bite frequently, though not invariably, fatal. Scuta 

 somewhere about 139, squamae generally about 22. 



The colouring of this snake is very peculiar, and Burchell's * 

 remark, that it is not easy to convey an idea of it by mere des- 

 cription, is very just. 



2. ViPERA m-mata. 

 Horfied Snake of the Inhabitants. 



Ground colour above, ash-grey, bluish-grey, or greyish-green, with irregular 

 rows of irregular brown spots, that have their edges considerably darker 

 in general than their centres. In most specimens, two distinct rows are 

 observed along the middle of the back, but in some there is only one, and 

 then the spots are considerably larger, and extend right across the imagi- 

 nary dorsal line. Along each side again, is another row of spots, but of a 

 much smaller size than those just described, and between them and the 

 scuta is a slight mottling of blackish-blue dots, ziz-zag streaks, or waving 

 lines. Colour below a shining pearly white, with in many instances a 

 slight tinge of red. Head depressed, and like the body covered with cari- 

 nated scales. Eyes prominent, placed well forward ; and each guarded a- 

 bove by three or more short, erect and prickly pointed bodies, which have 

 obtained for it the name it bears amongst the colonists. Neck consider- 

 ably smaller than the head or body, and the latter diminishes much in 

 thickness at the vent. The tail is slender, pointed, and about |th of the 

 length, which is seldom more than fourteen or fifteen inches. Greatest 

 thickness rarely more than that of a man's thumb, unless when enraged, 

 at which time, it can, in common with most vipers, increase its dimensions 

 very considerably. Scuta generally about 120, and squamae about 26. 



The motion of this snake is but slow, its disposition is fierce, 

 and its bite I have found invariably occasion death, when in- 

 flicted on young animals, though not always when practised on- 

 old ones of the same species. 



* Travels in Southern Africa, vol. i. / 



