148 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
received several accounts from well-known farmers, and two by 
medical men, of natives being bitten by Boomslangs which, with 
the exception of two of the cases, terminated in death. 
An instance was related to me by a gentleman who is a keen 
naturalist. He says he was quite unaware that the Boomslang 
was venomous. In fact, he was inclined still to be sceptical, 
owing to an experience which he had with this species of snake. 
Being anxious to capture one alive, one day he pursued a large 
Boomslang of the variegated variety, which escaped up a small 
tree. There being no other trees near, the snake ascended to 
the top, and, on his approach, showed fight. In attempting to 
seize it, the reptile bit him severely on the forefinger. Grasping 
the snake by the neck, he quickly unhooked its small recurved 
teeth, which were embedded in his skin. No symptoms of poison- 
ing set in, although his finger bled a little from the various 
punctures. He regarded this as proof that the Boomslang was 
non-venomous. The fact of the case was, the snake, in its 
haste, merely gripped the finger of the man with the front portion 
of its jaws, and did not succeed in getting its fangs into a suitable 
position to drive home before it was dragged off the flesh. 
BOOMSLANGS AND THEIR HABITS. 
) 
The word “‘ Boomslang”’ is Dutch, and means Tree Snake. 
Boom = tree, and Slang = snake. 
Boomslangs vary considerably in colouration, as will be noticed 
on reference to the description of the colouration of this species 
of snake given at the beginning of this chapter, in the list of the 
snakes of the back-fanged division. 
The round and long tapering body of the Boomslang is 
specially adapted for gliding swiftly and silently through the 
foliage of trees. Like other snakes, Boomslangs tend to vary in 
colouration according to their environment and habits. In 
districts more or less bare of forests and wooded kloofs, Boom- 
slangs are gradually taking to a terrestrial mode of life. Not 
being able to gain sufficient food in the trees and shrubs, they are 
compelled to take to the ground and hunt frogs, lizards, ground 
birds, and various other creatures. In consequence of this modi- 
fication of environment and habits, their colour undergoes a 
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