234 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



post had been witlidrawn, and pulled out a handful of rubbish, 

 amongst which a Night Adder was coiled. It did not attempt 

 to bite. The one idea was to escape. One of these snakes 

 nearly got its fangs into my hand one day. Riding across the 

 veld, I spied the cast skin of a snake in a tuft of grass. Dis- 

 mounting, I examined it, and seeing that it was unbroken, I 

 determined to secure it. 



Inch by inch I disengaged it, when, simultaneously as I 

 pressed something soft, I heard a hiss. A dark body shot 

 forward, and, with a thud, its forepart struck the ground violently. 

 A Night Adder was in the act of casting its skin, and when 

 I inadvertently pinched its tail, it waxed wrathful. It aimed 

 straight enough, but my hand was not there, for I had jerked 

 it away quickly. 



The Venom of the Night Adder. 



The Night Adder is greatly dreaded, the prevalent belief being 

 that a bite from one of these snakes will certainly prove fatal 

 unless antidotal measures are promptly taken. 



After a series of experiments on animals I have found that 

 its venom, although potent, is not nearly so powerful as that of 

 the Cobra, Mamba, Puff Adder, or Boomslang. Animals bitten 

 by Night Adders usually recovered completely after moping for 

 two or three days. Local swelling and more or less haemorrhage 

 took place. In recent experiments I found that when a large, 

 well-nourished Night Adder was allowed to bite the leg of a fowl 

 or rabbit, and retain its grip for two seconds, the victim died in 

 from half a day to a day. In the majority of the cases when 

 the snake was allowed to bite fully, but not to retain its hold, 

 the animals recovered in a couple or three days. A strong, 

 vigorous man would not be likely to die if bitten by one of these 

 snakes in the ordinary way. 



In the Eastern Province Herald, February, 191 1, the following 

 account of the death of a well-known man in these parts is 

 reported : — 



" Private telegrams were received in town early yesterday 

 morning conveying the sad news of the demise of Mr. R. C- 

 Parkin, of Bluegum Avenue, one of the oldest and most respected 

 farmers in the district. 



