THE SCHAAPSTEKERS, GRASS SNAKES, ETC. 131 
afterwards, but no alarming poisonous symptoms have so far 
manifested themselves. 
I have experimented with the Spotted or Rhombic Schaap- 
steker, and find that a full bite on the bared thigh of a rat will 
cause death in two hours. Fowls bitten by full-sized Schaap- 
Fic. 55.—A Rhombic or Spotted Schaapsteker (T. rhombeatus) photographed from above 
just after laying a batch of eggs in the Port Elizabeth Museum. 
stekers died in from seven to ten hours. For the first couple of 
hours the fowls seemed none the worse. Then drowsiness slowly 
set in, which was progressive, terminating in paralysis and death. 
Post-mortem examinations showed all the organs to be apparently 
normal. There was no sign of hemorrhage anywhere. It was 
evident death was due to paralysis of the nerve centres. 
