270 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



soon strangle it, or $o injure its neck that it will die later of the 

 injury. To disengage a snake from the noose, grip it by the neck 

 and tail and, with the disengaged fingers, relax the cord and slip 

 the noose over its head. Snakes may be securely captured in a 

 butterfly net made of strong material. Tree snakes are often 

 captured in this way. 



When out snake hunting, wear a pair of strong leather gaiters 

 or top boots. Thick gauntlet gloves may be worn, but they have 

 the disadvantage of making the fingers feel clumsy. Besides, it 

 is rather awkward carrying a big pair of gloves about. 



A snake cannot bite through a pair of leather gaiters of average 

 thickness. In capturing a Ringhals Cobra, take care it does not 

 discharge a shower of venom into your eyes. 



How TO Collect and Preserve Snakes. 



The collection and preservation of snakes is a most interest- 

 ing hobby. Provide yourself with some permanganate of 

 potash, a sharp penknife, and a ligature in case of a chance 

 bite from a snake ; also some good receptacle for your 

 specimens. Take also a long forked stick, the points of 

 which should be sharpened. When a snake is observed, it is 

 usually quite easy to pin him down with the forked end of the 

 stick, by pressing down on the back of his neck. Then apply 

 some oil from the stem of an old tobacco pipe to the end of a 

 wand and rub it in the snake's gaping mouth. This will either kill 

 him outright or put him in a trance-like condition. To make sure 

 he does not revive later, make a tiny incision at the back of 

 neck and sever the connection of the spinal cord with the base of 

 the skull. By employing these methods you will obtain a perfect 

 specimen. 



Another method is to strike the snake sharply across the back 

 near the head with a stick. This invariably dislocates or breaks 

 the backbone. Then the creature may be killed with the pipe 

 oil. It is, however, never wise to injure a snake bj^ striking it if 

 it can be avoided, as subsequently, on immersion in the preserva- 

 tive fluid, the injured part gets jniffy, and the scales come off. 



