NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family II. Yiperidae. 

 CLOTIJO.* (Gr. proper name.) 



Arietans (Lat. butting like a Ram], the Puff Adder. 



The PUFF ADDER is an inhabitant of Southern Africa. It is 

 a short thick flattish snake, of a most sinister and malignant 

 aspect. The following alarming adventure occurred to Mr. 

 Cole, a resident in the Cape. 



" I was going quietly to bed one evening, wearied by a long 

 day's hunting, when, close to my feet and by my bedside, 

 some glittering substance caught rny eye. I stooped to pick 

 it up ; but, ere my hand had quite reached it, the truth flash- 

 ed across me it was a snake ! Had I followed my first nat- 

 ural impulse, I should have sprung away, but not being able 

 clearly to see in what position the reptile was lying, or which 

 way his head was pointed, I controlled myself, and remained 

 rooted breathless to the spot. Straining my eyes, but moving 

 not an inch, I at length clearly distinguished a huge puff 

 adder, the most deadly snake in the colony, whose bite would 

 have sent me to the other world in an hour or two. I watch- 

 ed him in silent horror ; his head was from me, so much the 

 worse ; for this snake, unlike any other, always rises and 



* This is the name of one of the three Fates, viz. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos 

 All ihroo iuMies are used as genera of venomous serpents. 



