THE SEXES. 229 
experiences, and sat down on a fallen tree to watch. In about 
an hour the ants had cleaned every particle of flesh from the 
snake’s skeleton, leaving it beautifully white and clean. 
. A TJERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. 
When out seeking for a Cheetah or Hunting Leopard, which 
had been carrying off the farmers’ stock in the neighbourhood, 
my two Dutch friends and I cast ourselves down upon the grass 
under a tree, for the sun was very hot. I was busy looking over 
my notes, and my friends were meditatively smoking their 
pipes, when one hoarsely whispered, ‘“‘ Hendrik, don’t move! 
Don’t move an inch, I say!” I glanced at his face. It was 
deathly white. Following his gaze, a shiver of fear crept over 
me, for there, with its head and a foot of its body up the 
other Dutchman’s trouser-leg, was a Puff Adder. The other 
man was a hardy old Boer, whom I had seen in many a 
tight fix, but who never for an instant lost his nerve. He 
silently, and with a swift movement, seized the reptile’s tail, 
gave a terrific jerk, and sent it hurtling a score of yards away. 
Then he picked up his gun, sought out the snake, and shot it. 
PuFF ADDERS VARY IN COLOUR. 
Puff Adders vary considerably in coloration, although the 
shape of the markings is always the same. The nature of the 
surroundings seems to determine the shade of colour. The 
prevailing colour is dull brown, with yellow markings. Just 
after the skin-casting process they are at their best. The markings 
are then bright yellow. A large female Puff Adder, which was 
captured amongst some town refuse near Port Elizabeth by Mr. 
J. Williams, had the usual brown ground colour, but the markings 
were all pure white instead of yellow. There was not a trace of 
yellow on the snake. Two others have been captured. 
THE SEXES. 
In the great majority of snakes there is no outward sign by 
which the sexes of snakes may be determined. A male snake 
may be distinguished by firmly pressing the thumb or finger on 
the under part of the tail-region, two inches below the vent. 
Continue to press firmly, and at the same time slowly slide the 
