2l8 



THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



5A 



BiTis coRNUTA, Homsmaii or Horned Adder ; Hoornsman. 



Synonyms — Vipera cornuia ; Viper a arniata ; Cerastes cornuta ; Clotho 

 cornuta ; Cerastes lophophrys. 



Colour — Greyish or reddish brown above, with dark brown spots, often 

 edged with whitish, disposed in three or four longitudinal series, 

 with or without light spots between them ; head with more or 

 less distinct symmetrical markings ; an oblique dark streak 

 from the eye to the mouth ; yellowish white or brownish beneath, 

 uniform or spotted with dark brown. 



Average length — i foot to i foot 6 inches. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony, including British Bechu- 

 analand ; South-West Africa. (Partial to sandy regions.) 



. BiTis CAUDALis. Homed Puff Adder; Hoorn Pof Adder. Also called 

 Hornsman. 



Synonyms — Vipera ocellata ; Cerastes ocellatus ; Vipera caudalis ; 

 Cerastes caudalis ; Vipera schneideri. 



Fig. 88. — Head and neck of the Horned Adder (Diiis caudalis). 



A pair of erect horn-like scales on the head. Body 



rough-looking and dingy. Head flat and broad. 



Colour— Pale buff, reddish or sandy grey above, with two series of 

 brown spots with light centres, and frequently a vertebral series 

 of narrower spots ; the spots may be edged with yellow ; yellowish 

 white beneath, uniform or with small blackish spots on the sides. 



Average length — 14 inches. 



Distribution — Eastern Province of Cape Colony ; Orange Free State and 

 Transvaal ; Southern Rhodesia ; South-West Africa ; Angola. 



BiTis GABONicA. The West African Adder. 



Synonyms — Cerastes nasicornis ; Echidna gabonica ; Vipera rhino- 

 ceros ; Clotho rhinoceros ; Bitis rhinoceros. 



Colour — Brown above, with a vertebral series of elongate, quadrangular 

 yellowish or light brown spots connected by hour-glass shaped 

 dark brown markings. A series of crescentic or angular dark 

 brown markings on each side ; head pale above with a dark 

 brown median line ; a dark lorown oblique band behind the 

 eye, widening towards the mouth. Yellowish beneath, with 

 small brown or blackish spots. 



Average length — -3 to 4 feet. 



Distribution — Amatongaland ; Damaraland ; South Central Africa. 



