1861.] 



LETTER FROM DR. SHORTT. 



265 



Of these, Strepsiceros kudu, Damalis albifrons, Calotragus tra- 

 gulus, C. melanotis, Gallinula nesiotis, Coronella cana, Leptodeira 

 rufescens, Psammophis sibilans, Boodon lineatus, liamprophis aurora, 

 Bucephalus capensis, and Chamceleo dilepis, were stated to be exhi- 

 bited in the Society's collection for the first time. 



June 25th, 1861. 

 Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read an extract from a letter from Dr. Shortt, 

 F.Z.S., dated Chiugleput, May 10th, 1861 :— 



" By the present mail I send you the head and skin of a Snake 

 common to this place; the natives call it ' Cathree Pamboo' (Scis- 

 sors Snake). This name it gets on account of the double fangs, as you 

 will see from the specimen I send. The snakes are large ; one I 

 killed the other day measured 4 feet 6 inches in length, and was 

 7 1 inches in circumference at its thickest part ; it is prettily marked, 

 and is considered extremely poisonous and deadly. These snakes 

 are common in prickly pear (^Cactus opuntia} hedges, sometimes are 

 found about gardens and rocks ; they live on rats, mice, birds, frogs, 

 &c. ; the natives are in great dread of them. I find that they are 

 very delicate, from being so easily killed; the slightest blow kills them. 

 To suspend them vrith a noose attached to some part of the body for 

 a couple of minutes kills them. I have been trying to get a live 

 specimen, but in consequence of their deadly poisonous nature and 

 the terror with which a native looks on them, and from their delicacy 

 in being so readily killed, I have not succeeded. Three have been 

 brought me, but they were either dead or dying ere they reached me. 



