150 REPTILES 



true spitting. The phenomenon is so well known here that it 

 would be hardly necessary to publish these observations were 

 it not for the scepticism regarding spitting snakes which still 

 seems to exist at home. I have heard on trustworthy authority 

 of several cases where temporary blindness (probably acute 

 conjunctivitis) resulted from a jet of ringhals or cobra venom in 

 the eye, so that care should be taken in approaching these snakes 

 when in an aggressive mood." 



The Gabun viper or river-jack viper (Bitis gabonica) may 

 be added to the list of venom-spitting snakes, having been ob- 

 served to eject its secretion to a considerable distance. One 

 drop ejected into the human eye will cause severe temporary 

 pain or even permanent injury ; while dogs are completely 

 blinded when thus struck. 



A somewhat analogous, although less remarkable, means of 

 defence is adopted by a North American snake, locally known 

 as the milk-snake {Ophibalus doliatus triangularis), which is 

 stated to exude from between its scales a copious flow of an 

 acrid milky fluid. There can be no doubt that the acrid secretion 

 of this snake, like that of the common toad among amphibians 

 is exuded for defensive purposes. The evil smell exhaled from 

 the secretion of certain glands in Clemmys leprosa and the 

 "stink-pot" terrapin (Cinosternum odoratum) has been already 

 alluded to as a defensive provision ; and the habit possessed by 

 certain lizards and snakes of voiding the contents of the cloaca 

 when captured comes under the same category. 



As incidentally mentioned in an earlier chapter, the hissing 

 of snakes and monitors, accompanied by rapid vibration of the 

 forked tongue, and frequently by an elevation of the head and 

 neck and the assumption of a threatening or intimidating 

 attitude, seems to be undoubtedly a defensive action. Under 

 the same category may be included the inflation of the hood 

 of the cobra, and the expansion of the neck-frill of the Austra- 

 lian frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingi) ; the latter action 

 being accompanied by the opening of the mouth and the as- 

 sumption of a threatening attitude. Many, or all, of the 

 iguanas likewise assume threatening or terrifying gestures when 

 approached ; the male basilisk, for instance, if it cannot escape 

 detection by crouching down on the branch on which it may 

 happen to be resting, rearing up its head and erecting the crest 



