CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



PAGE 



Classification and Evolution of Snakes ...... i-ii 



CHAPTER H. 

 History, Distribution, and General Habits of Snakes . . 12-49 



CHAPTER III. 



The Blind Burrowing Snakes {Typhlops and Glauconia). List of the 

 South African species, habits, colouration, average length, and 

 distribution. The South African Pythons, their life history, 

 description, and various anecdotes ..... 50-79 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Aglypha, or Solid-toothed non-venomous snakes. List of the 

 South African species, their habits, colouration, average length 

 and distribution ........ 80-114 



CHAPTER V. 



Opisthoglypha or Back-fanged snakes, all of which are venomous. 

 These snakes are in the transition stage of fang and poison gland 

 development. List of the South African species, habits, coloura- 

 tion, average length and distribution .... 1 15-155 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Proteroglypha or Front-fanged typically venomous snakes of the 

 Hydrophinae and Elapinae Sub-families, viz. the Sea Snakes, 

 Cobras, Mambas, Coral Snakes, Garter Snakes, etc. List of the 

 South African species, habits, colouration, average length and 

 distribution .... .... 156—212 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Solenoglypha section of the Proteroglypha or Front-fanged 

 venomous snakes, viz. the Adders and Vipers — Family VipendcB. 

 List of the South African species, their habits, colouration, 

 average length and distribution ..... 213-245 



