NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



not too large, receiving the blow of the snake on 

 its prickly back. The snake, with bruised and 

 punctured mouth, withdraws in pain, and before 

 it can recover, the Hedgehog seizes it by the head 

 or neck and holds on till it crushes the vertebrae. 

 It then inflicts a series of sharp nips along the 

 snake's back, with the object of crushing the back- 

 bone in several places, and thus rendering the 

 reptile utterly helpless. When attacking a snake, 

 the Hedgehog is careful to keep its unprotected 

 head and legs well out of reach of its intended prey's 

 deadly fangs. It is not naturally immune to snake 

 venom, as has been stated. Reading a statement 

 in a scientific journal to the effect that the European 

 Hedgehog has been shown to be immune to snake 

 venom, I conducted some experiments upon South 

 African Hedgehogs with a view of ascertaining if 

 they were immune ; or, if not, then the degree of 

 natural resistance possessed by them against snake 

 venom. 



A drop of Cobra venom rapidly killed an 

 adult Hedgehog. Two drops of Puff Adder venom 

 injected under the skin of the thigh caused severe 

 subcutaneous haemorrhage, swelling and death in 

 one hour and three-quarters. Similar doses of Puff 

 Adder venom were injected into ordinary fowls and 

 they recovered. Another Hedgehog succumbed to a 

 drop and a half of Puff Adder venom. A venomous 

 snake is capable of injecting ten and more drops of 

 venom at a bite. Five drops is the usual quantity, 



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