70 



VENOMS 



transverse or oblique, chevron-shaped black bands ; an oblique 

 black band extends behind the eye. The belly is dirty yellow, 

 uniform, or marked with small black spots. 



Total length, 1,350 milhmetres, sometimes more ; tail IGO. 



Fig. 36. — Skull of Bitis arietans (the Puff Adder). 

 (After G. A. Boulenger, ojh cit.) 



Habitat : This snake is met with throughout Africa, from 

 Southern Morocco, Kordofan, and Somaliland, to the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and also in Southern Arabia. It is especially common near 

 the Niger and on the Congo. 



When irritated, it puffs itself out to such an extent that its 



