220 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Genus ATRACTASPIS. 



Two Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Ventrals 221-260 .. .. .. .. .. Atractaspis bibronii. 



Ventrals 199 .. .. .. .. .. Atractaspis duerdeni. 



1. Atractaspis bibronii. Oviparous Adder; Ei-leggend Adder, (Eier- 

 leggend slang.) 



Synonyms — Atractaspis inornatus : Atractaspis irregularis. 

 Colour^Dark purplish-brown above, yellowish or pale brown beneath. 

 Average length — 2 feet. 

 Distribution — Cape Colony ; Orange Free State ; Griqualand ; Natal ; 



Zululand ; Transvaal ; South-West Africa ; Angola ; Delagoa 



Bay ; Portuguese East Africa. 



2. Atractaspis duerdeni. Duerden's Adder. 

 Colour — Cream coloured above, lighter below. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches. 

 Distribution — North-East Kalahari. 



The Puff Adder. 

 {Bitis ari elans.) 

 Zulu : ihiduhi. 



The Puff Adder is South Africa's typical viper, being one of 

 the commonest and most widespread snakes in the sub-continent. 

 It is exceedingly venomous and dangerous to man, owing to its 

 habit of haunting the vicinity of dwellings, enticed thither in 

 search of rats, mice, and chickens. It is quite a common occur- 

 rence to find Puff Adders actually crawling about the rooms. 



One day a lady at Walmer, adjacent to Port Elizabeth, went 

 to her kitchen-dresser for a dish, and there amongst the plates 

 was a large live Puff Adder. Aided by her daughter, she captured 

 it alive, and brought it in triumph to me. 



Once I was staying with a friend for a few days one winter in 

 Natal. He and his wife proposed a walk. She retired to put 

 on her bonnet, when presently she rushed forth and fell into her 

 husband's arms in a fainting condition. It seems that a venture- 

 some Puff Adder had gained access to the house, found the ward- 

 robe door ajar and no Hd on the bonnet box, and forthwith settled 

 himself to hibernate for the winter in the bonnet, evidently 

 congratulating himself on finding so cosy a place. Unlike the 

 majority of other species of snakes, the adders are frequently 

 met with abroad on warm moonlight nights. 



