132 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
The Back-fanged Snakes, known as the Grass Snakes and 
Sand Snakes (Psammophis), are, if anything, less venomous than 
the above-named Schaapsteker. Half-sized specimens when 
allowed to bite fowls, produced only slightly poisonous effects. 
When full-sized specimens were allowed to bite fully and worry 
the flesh for a few seconds, the fowls died, usually in from eight 
to twelve hours. After going to press I conducted another 
series of experiments with the venom of the Schaapsteker ; the 
results of which are seen in the Addenda at the end of this 
book. 
A BATTLE—AND THE RESULT. 
One day I introduced a Lineated Schaapsteker Snake, two feet 
three inches long, into a cage containing an Olive-black House 
Snake, which was two feet five inches in length. The latter began 
to investigate the intruder with his black-forked tongue, which 
he vibrated incessantly. He was evidently working himself up 
into an excited condition. Presently he made a lightning-like 
grab, and instantly lapped his jaws over the head of the Schaap- 
steker. He gripped tenaciously, but made no attempt at con- 
striction. The victim, realizing his danger, coiled, lashed, and 
struggled mightily. After tumbling over and over, and tying 
and untying themselves in a series of knots, the Schaapsteker 
began to weaken. The House Snake still kept the same grip. 
His jaws had not shifted in the least. He made no attempt 
to get the head of his victim further into his mouth. 
After holding on thus for over an hour, he proceeded slowly 
to swallow the, now limp, Schaapsteker. I timed him, and found 
he took four and a half hours before the end of his victim’s tail 
disappeared down his throat. Then he yawned half a dozen 
times. Opening the cage door, I lifted him carefully out and 
placed him in cotton wool in a cosy little box, and left him to his 
slumbers, for he was now torpid and helpless. I peeped in at 
him every day, but, beyond raising his head and sticking out his 
tongue at me, he made no attempt to move. In five days’ time 
he began to revive, and moved around at times; but he had not 
yet completed the digestion of his victim, for, on feeling his ribs, 
I could detect the remains of the Schaapsteker in his digestive 
tract. However, in seven days’ time the Schaapsteker had 
