Till. MUtKR. 



L08 



Its gent-nil color is brown ; there are two dark l>r-.\\ n spots on each ride of the back of the 

 head, ami u y.-llo stn-ak run h,-m. r^.n the body ore three rows of oblong brown 



spots, edged with whit- 



S 



ou KATUBJL- 



THE terrible PUFF ADDER is closely allied to the preceding specie*. 



This reptile is a native of Southern Africa, and is one of the commonest, an well as one of 

 the most deadly, of poisonous Snakes. It is slow and apparently torpid in .-ill its movement *. 

 except when it is going to strike, and the colonists say that it is able to leap backwards so 

 as to bite a person who is standing by its tail. Captain Drayson, who has seen much of 

 this reptile and its habits, has kindly forwarded to me the following short account of this 

 creature : 



'"This formidable looking n-ptile is more dreaded than any other of the numerous poison- 

 ou> Snakes in Africa, a fart which mainly results from its indolmt natinv. Whilst other and 

 more active Snakes will more rapidly away upon the approach of man, the Pun* Adder will 

 frequently lie still, either too lazy to move, or dozing beneath the warm HUM of the south. 

 This reptile attains a length of four f---t. or four feet six inches, and, some specimens may be 

 found even longer : it- rirciinif>*rence is as much as that of a man's arm. Its whole appear- 

 ance is decidedly indicative of venom. Its broad ace-of-rliil>s. shaped head, it- thii-k Ixxly, 

 and suddenly tapered tail, and its chequered back, are all evidences of its poisonous nature, 

 it derives its popular name from its practice of puffing out or swelling the body when 

 irritated. 



Vm. UL-U. 



