268 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
the leverage thus obtained it can sometimes jerk its head free, 
and before it is possible to shake it off, it may have the opportunity 
of inflicting two or three bites. On the other hand, if you are 
holding the snake’s tail in one hand, and if by chance the head 
should slip from the fingers of the other hand, the reptile can 
be instantly dropped or cast away before it is possible for it 
to bite. 
A snake when gripped by the neck just behind the head 
cannot possibly turn and bite. 
When dropped into a bag, the captive snake does not struggle. 
It coils up and lies quite still. It makes no attempt to bite 
through the bag. 
Puff Adders may be safely approached from behind and 
noosed, as shown in the illustration. It is not true that they are 
able to bite by casting themselves backwards. The idea has 
arisen through the habit of the Puff Adder of throwing back his 
head and portion of the body to obtain a greater impetus in order 
to cast himself forward when about to bite. Be careful when 
standing in front of a Puff Adder, especially if he be coiled up, for 
he is able to cast himself forward the full length of his body and 
even a little further. .Keep at least twice the length of his body 
from him. <A Puff Adder nearly bit my photographer by springing 
forward at him. The reptile shot out the full length of its 
body, making a desperate lunge at the man’s legs with its great 
fangs. Quick as thought it coiled, and again launched itself 
forward, but the photographer happened to be young and active 
and sprang aside. If I were to tell you all that we did to obtain 
the facts and photos for this book, and how we collected venom 
for all the experiments, it would make your blood feel as cold as 
that of a snake. 
Many kinds of snakes may be captured simply by putting the 
end of your walking stick across the neck and pressing it down. 
The snake may then be taken by the neck with the finger and 
thumb. Tree snakes should be chased until you get them into an 
isolated tree, or away from trees altogether. If cornered in a tree 
they assume the defensive attitude and can then be noosed from 
the end of a long stick. If a snake is noosed in the way shown 
in the illustration, it can be carried for quite a long time without 
injuring it if you hold its tail firmly so that its body lies along 
the stick. Never allow a snake’s body to dangle, as this will very 
