204 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



the origin of the behef of the feather-crested snake. It would, 

 I suppose, when the snake raised its head, spread into a file, 

 giving him the appearance of wearing a feather. The snake when 

 casting his skin had been unable to rid himself of the neck-skin, 

 and this had accumulated for years. It must be sometimes a 

 source of great annoyance to the owner, making him vicious. I 

 showed the natives this skin, but they would not be convinced 

 about its being an explanation of the feather business. They 

 told me their fathers wouldn't kill the Mamba, as it would have 

 provoked the wrath of the mighty Umtagati (God)." 



This explanation of Mr. Marley's seems to offer a fairly reason- 

 able explanation, but it is not, I think, the one which accounts 

 for this widespread belief amongst the natives of the existence 

 of a Crested Mamba. 



Mr. W. F. Jones is a gentleman who has lived for years in 

 those parts of Zululand most frequented by Black Mambas. He 

 has hunted them daily for the purpose of collecting their venom 

 for scientific purposes. He has been responsible for the deaths 

 of many hundreds. He writes me as follows :— " It may not be 

 generally known, but Black Mambas have the power of apparently 

 inflating the greater portion of the body and neck. The neck is 

 not distended in the manner of the Cobra family, but the sides 

 appear to be compressed together so that when seen straight on, 

 this section of the body presents the appearance of a narrow 

 ridge. When viewed sideways it gives the creature with its 

 very small head a grotesque appearance. The full distension is 

 rarely resorted to. It moves deliberately and even awkwardly, 

 and quite unlike itself when the distension is complete, and it 

 would be a very dangerous proceeding to molest one at such 

 times. A nine to twelve foot Mamba at this time looks twice its 

 usual girth, and is a starthng object. Before there is time to 

 recover from the surprise, the snake has achieved its purpose, 

 and vanished. This is merely a temporary ruse to cover retreat 

 over ground exposed to the view of an intruder. The moment 

 the snake is out of sight the body assumes its usual outline, and 

 either gHdes off rapidly, or remains perfectly still and intensely 

 vigilant. Undoubtedly, the snake wishes you to believe it has 

 gone to ground, and it is safest that you should so believe, and 

 cross it no more for that day. Though it is a comparatively 

 rare occurrence for the Black Mamba to assume this guise, the 



