228 



THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



i 



4. 



Fig. 93. — 1. I'ufI Adder braced up and on the defensive ready for a forward thrust. 



2. The first movcmint in the act of striking. The head and anterior part of the body is thrown 



backward wilh lightning rapidity. 



3. Then with gaping jaws the snake makes a rapid forward stroke. 



4. If he does not succeed in driving his fangs home in the object aimed at, he falls the whole length 



of his body, as seen in this picture. 



