100 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



and not flattened like those of the cobras. They possess no power 

 of elevating the skin of the neck in the form of the \vell-kno\vn 

 " hood " of the cobra. If any snake expands a hood, and at the 

 same time raises its head and the fore part of its body above the 

 ground, you may rest assured it is one of the venomous cobra 

 family. 



Mole Snakes are Harmless. 



The Mole Snake is quite non- venomous. It always kills its 

 prey by constriction. The power which it can exert is very 

 great. I have frequently held Mole Snakes between my finger 

 and thumb, and allowed them to coil round my wrist. In a few 

 minutes the blood circulation was arrested, and the hand grew 

 cold and numb, so great was the power of constriction exerted 

 by the snake. 



In captivity Mole Snakes rarely climb. They only seem to 

 do so when exploring their place of confinement, soon after being 

 placed therein. After a day or two they never attempt to climb 

 the branches in the cage, and most of the time lie buried in the 

 sand with the head protruding, which they instantly withdraw 

 if disturbed. In the wild state I have occasionall}^ found them 

 high up above ground in thick creepers, such, for instance, as 

 the honeysuckle, grenadilla, and creeper-covered bushes. It 

 is a common sight to see Mole Snakes basking in the sun near 

 rat or mole holes, into which they instantly retire if disturbed. 



The Mole Snake is viviparous, giving birth to a great number 

 of young, usually from thirty to forty-five. 



We procured one which measured seven feet three inclies, and 

 it gave birth to eighty-four young, which is the maximum number 

 ever recorded. This specimen was, however, much larger than 

 the average of Mole Snakes, which are usually from three to four 

 feet in length. 



It is a grave mistake to kill Mole Snakes, for they are as harm- 

 less as lizards, and are the farmer's great allies, aiding him most 

 efficiently in killing off rats and mice. They have been known 

 to take fowls' eggs and young chickens. Out in the bush veld, 

 pasturage and the cultivated fields, however, they do no harm 

 at all. 



