478 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Gadow says, ‘“‘ A bird is known by its feathers, a beast by its hairs, 
a fish by its fins, but reptiles are neither fish, flesh, nor fowl.” 
Permanganate of potash, if injected in solution direct into a vein, is 
attended with grave danger. It will kill all venoms if brought into direct 
contact with them. 
The Bird Snake (Theltornis) is oviparous. 
The Cape Wolf Snake (Lycophidium capense) is oviparous, One laid 
a batch of eggs in the Port Elizabeth Museum on 8th December, 1909. 
It is untrue that snakes will not pass under geranium bushes. I have 
often seen them do so. A Puff Adder was actually killed lying asleep 
under a large geranium bush. 
When Mole Snakes shed their skin it comes off in pieces, not in one 
whole piece. This is owing to their small heads and comparatively large 
bodies. 
I have never known a Python to shed a complete skin. Every one I 
have kept in captivity shed its skin in pieces. The skin broke up and 
peeled off in fragments. 
