THE HORNED ADDER, OR HORNSMAN, 241 



also. Doubtless the other species of the Genus Causus are also 

 oviparous. 



The Horned Adder, or Hornsman. 



The Hornsman is a small adder with the characteristic 

 flattish body and broad head of the Viperine family of snakes. 

 These vipers are usually about a foot to one foot six inches in 

 length. There are two species, the only notable difference 

 between them being that the one known as Bitis cornuta has two 

 or more erect horn-like scales over each eye, while the other, 

 which is known as Bitis caudalis, never has more than one erect 

 horn-like scale over the eye. The former occurs chiefly in the 

 sandy districts of the Western Province of the Cape Colony and 

 northwards to West Africa. The latter is found in both provinces 

 of Cape Colony, and extends to Rhodesia and West Africa. They 

 have a habit of burying their bodies in the loose sand, the head 

 only being above. In this position they will lie for hours, often 

 for a whole day on the watch for lizards and other small creatures 

 on which they feed. Being practically invisible when thus 

 concealed, they are especially dangerous to the bare-footed native, 

 who is bitten immediately he places his foot upon one, unless he 

 luckily happens to step right upon its head. Even then the 

 chances are the snake will extricate its head in time to deliver a 

 bite before the foot has been withdrawn. These snakes are 

 capable of inflicting a bite which will cause death to a man. 

 However, the chance of a fatal issue is considerably less than if 

 bitten by a Puff Adder or Cobra. This adder gets its name of 

 Hornsman from the fact of its having one or more erect scales 

 on its eyebrows, which look like tiny horns. 



Unless kept in captivity in a large cage out in the open in 

 which plenty of sand is strewn, these snakes will not live, as they 

 refuse to eat, and die in a short time. They are, moreover, very 

 susceptible to a change of environment. I have obtained scores 

 of them [Bitis caudalis) from the Karoo and only succeeded in 

 keeping them alive at Port Ehzabeth for a few months. The 

 atmosphere is evidently too moist for them. The dry sandy 

 wastes are their natural habitats.* 



* Horned Adders give birth to from eight to twenty young — the average 

 is twelve to fourteen. Several batches have been born in our cages in the 

 months of February and March. Several specimens of Bitis cornuta have 

 been procured from the sand dunes at Port Elizabeth. 



