148 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



received several accounts from well-known farmers, and two by 

 medical men, of natives being bitten by Boomslangs which, with 

 the exception of two of the cases, terminated in death. 



An instance was related to me by a gentleman who is a keen 

 naturalist. He says he was quite unaware that the Boomslang 

 was venomous. In fact, he was inclined still to be sceptical, 

 owing to an experience which he had with this species of snake. 

 Being anxious to capture one alive, one day he pursued a large 

 Boomslang of the variegated variety, which escaped up a small 

 tree. There being no other trees near, the snake ascended to 

 the top, and, on his approach, showed fight. In attempting to 

 seize it, the reptile bit him severely on the forefinger. Grasping 

 the snake by the neck, he quickly unhooked its small recurved 

 teeth, which were embedded in his skin. No symptoms of poison- 

 ing set in, although his linger bled a little from the various 

 punctures. He regarded this as proof that the Boomslang was 

 non-venomous. The fact of the case was, the snake, in its 

 haste, merely gripped the finger of the man with the front portion 

 of its jaws, and did not succeed in getting its fangs into a suitable 

 position to drive home before it was dragged off the flesh. 



Boomslangs and Their Habits. 



The word " Boomslang " is Dutch, and means Tree Snake. 

 Boom = tree, and Slang = snake. 



Boomslangs vary considerably in colouration, as will be noticed 

 on reference to the description of the colouration of this species 

 of snake given at the beginning of this chapter, in the list of the 

 snakes of the back-fanged division. 



The round and long tapering body of the Boomslang is 

 specially adapted for ghding swiftly and silently through the 

 fohage of trees. Like other snakes, Boomslangs tend to vary in 

 colouration according to their environment and habits. In 

 districts more or less bare of forests and wooded kloofs, Boom- 

 slangs are gradually taking to a terrestrial mode of life. Not 

 being able to gain sufficient food in the trees and shrubs, they are 

 compelled to take to the ground and hunt frogs, lizards, ground 

 birds, and various other creatures. In consequence of this modi- 

 fication of environment and habits, their colour undergoes a 

 change, eventually developing into blackish olive or light 

 purplish brown, which is eminently suitable, blending perfectly 



