464 



THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Grass and Sand Snake, when alarmed, ghde off over the stunted 

 herbage and grass with quick undulating motions. So quick are the 

 movements that, to the eye, they seem to be bowling along like a hoop. 

 Colonists know these as Whip Snakes. 



When a Puff Adder is about to strike he w-ithdraws his head and 

 bunches up his body. He can propel himself the full length of his body. 



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Fig. J64. — Three great chums — a Black Mole Snake, a baby Python, and a baby boy. 



Puff Adders do not strike backwards. In the act of striking they throw 

 the head well back, then forwards or sideways. 



There is no such reptile as a Two-headed Snake. People often call 

 the blind Burrowing Snake (Typhlops), a two-headed snake because of its 

 blunt tail, which has the appearance of a head. 



