SCHAAPSTEKERS COMPARATIVELY HARMLESS. 489 



division which distil a venom of a nature surpassing in its death- 

 producing power that of the well-known Cobra. 



The Schaapstekers experimented with were the Spotted or 

 Rhombic species {T. rhombeatus). Although some other snakes 

 are termed Schaapstekers, the Spotted or Rhombic species is 

 the typical Schaapsteker of South Africa. 



Schaapstekers Comparatively Harmless, 



Although it has been shown that the Schaapsteker has a venom 

 which, in strength, exceeds that of the Cobra, it is not a snake 

 which we need fear overmuch. The fangs are small, and being 

 set halfway back in the jaw, the reptile is obliged to get a full 

 grip before venom can be ejected. The venom is not driven out 

 forcibly by the violent constriction of the venom glands, as is 

 the case with the front-fanged, typically venomous snakes. The 

 venom is like glycerine in consistency, and the snake is obliged 

 to press the fangs fully home, and at the same time compress 

 the jaws forcibly and worry the flesh before a fatal dose of poison 

 can be worked into the wounds. 



A Schaapsteker is incapable of doing harm if it should bite 

 at a man's leg clothed in thick trousers. Even if the sock be of 

 average thickness, the chances of poisoning are remote. 



Bare-legged natives, although frequently bitten by Schaap- 

 stekers, seldom come to any harm, for the reason that the instant 

 the snake strikes and grips the skin, it is violently kicked off. 



James Williams, of Boomslang fame, has many times in my 

 presence been bitten by Schaapstekers, but no symptoms of 

 poisoning supervened. In these instances the snakes merely 

 pecked and inflicted a sHght wound with the teeth, but failed to 

 get a strong grip and hold on. However, it must be borne in mind 

 and not forgotten, that if an adult Schaapsteker should obtain 

 a full grip and succeed in driving its fangs through the skin and 

 be allowed to compress its jaws for a moment or two, it is capable 

 of injecting sufficient venom to cause death in a man within six 

 to twelve hours. 



Therefore, let all take warning and be careful how they handle 

 these snakes. In fact, every snake of the back-fanged kind 

 should be handled as carefully as those of the typically venomous 

 front-fanged species, such as the Cobra and Puff Adder. 



