408 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE. Chap. XX. 



hyenas and jackals only being found. Little noc- 

 turnal animals are more common, but they are very 

 difficult to get at. Reptiles abound in the forest. 

 There are a great many species of snakes, the greater 

 part of which are very poisonous. Some are ground- 

 snakes, others spend part of their lives upon trees, 

 while some are water-snakes. Among the ground- 

 snakes one of the most to be dreaded is the Clotho 

 nasicornis. There are several species of Eckis and of 

 Atheris ; these are generally found upon trees ; they 

 are small and very venomous. A very dangerous 

 snake is the black variety of the cobra (Dendraspis 

 angusticej)s). This snake is much dreaded, for, 

 when surprised or attacked, it rises up as if ready to 

 spring upon you. There is also a large water-snake 

 found often in the beautiful clear water of the streams 

 of the interior, described by Dr. Gunther under the 

 name of S'duropJiaga grayii. I have often seen this 

 snake coiled up and resting on the branches of trees 

 under water. 



Lizards are also abundant in some districts, and it 

 is amusing to watch how they prey on the insect 

 world. Among them I noticed a night species, that 

 lives in the houses, and which is the great enemy 

 of cockroaches. They are continually moving from 

 one place to another during the night in search of 

 their prey. During the day they remain |)erfectly 

 still, and hide themselves between the bark of trees 

 forming the walls of the huts. 



The country is also very rich in spiders ; they 

 are of wonderful diversity of form. Some of them are 

 so large, and their webs so strong, that birds are 



