HOW BOOMSLANGS BITE. 147 



It will be seen by the results of the above experiments that 

 the bite of the Boomslang destroys the life of a fowl more rapidly 

 than that of tlie Cobra, and that the venom of the Puff- Adder is in 

 comparison very slow in its action and not nearly so virulent. 



The fraction of a drop of Boomslang venom is rapidly fatal 

 to a fowl, guinea pig, or rabbit. 



How BOOMSI.ANGS BlTE. 



There are two reasons why the Boomslang does not alwaj^s 

 inflict a venomous bite. The fangs are grooved and comparatively 

 small, and if the bite is delivered through clothing the venom is 

 absorbed by the material, and the fangs barely scratch the flesh. 

 Secondly, the fangs are set half-way back in the upper jaw, and 

 are three in number on each side, exactly under tiie eyes, and 

 naturally, unless the Boomslang's grip be full and complete, these 

 fangs do not penetrate the flesh. During my experiments, I 

 observed that the Boomslang in every case took as good a grip 

 as possible on the animal, then almost instantly, with a heaving, 

 forward movement and disengagement of the teeth of the upper 

 jaw from the victim's flesh, it would take a fresh and more secure 

 hold, the upper jaws in which the fangs are set being capable 

 of being pushed downwards, exposing the fangs and forcing thejr 

 points forward ; the jaw then closes with a snap, and the snake 

 worries the flesh, with tlie evident intention of forcing the venom 

 into the punctures, as well as enlarging them for the freer ingress 

 of the poison. 



A medical correspondent from Barkly, Eastern Province of 

 Cape Colony, wrote me that a short time ago he lost a favourite 

 dog from a bite by a Boomslang. The dog attacked the reptile, 

 w^hich bit its foe on the leg. The dog died a few liours after being 

 bitten. 



A stock farmer at the Vaal River told me that one of liis oxen 

 was bitten on the hp by a large Boomslang. The ox was eating 

 the foUage of a tree, and had evidently disturbed the snake. 

 The herd-boy saw the affair, and called the farmer, who was at 

 his waggon, a httle distance aw'ay. He says he saw and shot the 

 snake, which was a green and black male Boomslang. He applied 

 what is known as " Jesse Shaw's" cure, but the ox died three- 

 quarters of an hour after. 



Since the publication of the first edition of this book I have 



