SPEED OF THE ROCK SNAKE. 121 



of their owner. Few persons have any idea of the exceeding heaviness of a large Snalve. and 

 unless the rej^tile has been fairly lifted and carried about, its easy gliding movements have the 

 effect of maldng it appear as if it were as light as it is graceful. 



Both jaws are thickly studded with these teeth, and their use is to seize the prey and hold 

 it while the huge folds of the body are flung round the victim, and its life crushed out of its 

 frame by the conti-acting coils. In order to secure its prey, the Rock Snake acts after the 

 manner of all this family. It waits iu some sjiot where it knows that its victim vdll pass, coils 

 its tail round some object, such as a tree or a stone, so as to give it a finn hold, and then, 

 rapidly darting at the prey, it draws back its head, carrying the poor victim into the fatal 

 gi-asp of its folds. It usually seizes by the throat, and retains its hold until the crushed 

 animal is quite dead. 



The following interesting account of the Rock Snake of Natal has been kindly forwarded 

 to me by Captain Drayson : — 



"The Rock Snake is somewhat rare, even in the least populous districts, and, in conse- 

 quence of its retired habits and silent method of moving, it is not frequently seen. Although 

 on an aveitige I traversed the forests and i)lains near my various stations at least live times a 

 week, I saw but seven Rock Snakes during a period of nearly three years. This Snake 

 retreats into rocky crevices, or amongst the most tangled brushwood, after it has devoured its 

 prey, which consists of toads, frogs, lizards, such as guanas, etc., birds of any size, and even 

 small bucks. Its bite is quite harmless compared to that of the poisonous Snakes, and it 

 destroys its victims by pressure. 



" So cautioiis is this Snake to remain quite quiet if it thinks itself imseen, that on one 

 occasion I nearly rode over a rather large Boa, which lay on a small path along wliicli I was 

 riding. On each side of this path there was a dense jungle, and there was merely room for one 

 animal to travel along it. I liappened to 'pull up' my pony to examine the surrounding 

 bush, when I noticed that his erected ears indicated that he had seen game, he being a most 

 accomplished shooting pony. Upon looking on the path before me I obserxed a very large 

 Snake, lying perfectly still, and looking at me in a very suspicious manner. The reptile being 

 partly concealed by the long grass, I could not see whether or not it was a poisonous Snake, so 

 I quietly 'reined back' about a yard, and shot the creature through the body. The coils and 

 contortions were something terrific to see, as the monster fought hard for his life ; but even the 

 bone and muscle of a Boa has but a poor chance against gunpowder and lead. A charge of 

 buck shot in the head settled the bu-siness, and cleared the path of a very disagreeable 

 vis-d-vis. This Snake measured about sixteen feet in length, and was in very fair condition, 

 having a fine bloom on his skin. He had resided about a hundred yards from a long vlei 

 (lagoon), in which frogs and lizards abounded. 



' ' A much larger Rock Snake was shot by me some time after thig, and measured upwards 

 of .seven yai'ds. I once had an opportunity which rarely occurs to many men, viz., that of 

 trying my speed with a young Boa-constrictor. Upon returning from shooting one afternoon I 

 crossed the Umbilo River near Natal, and shortly after observed a coran flying up and dovm 

 in a very singular manner. This bird being very good eating, I dismounted, and commenced 

 stalldng him, and approached A\ithin a few yards of him without being discovered. I 

 then noticed a Snake creeping towards the coran, which merely flew on a few feet and then 

 settled again. The Snake again approached the bird, which, however, seeing me, became dis- 

 enchanted, and was making its escape when I shot it, and then turned my attention to the 

 Snake, which remained quite still. I soon saw that the animal was a young Rock Snake about 

 twelve feet long, and, being desirous to obtain a live specimen of this reptile, I ran to my 

 pony, where on the saddle I had a long leather strap, vnth which I hoped to noose the 

 young Boa. 



" Upon returning to the scene of the coran' s death, I found the Snake making off as fast 

 as he could towards a clump of thick bush. Immediately starting after him, I headed him 

 after a race of about sixty yards, when he turned and tried another direction. I failed in 

 noosing him, and, finding that he would j^robably escape into the bush, I was compelled 



Vol. m.— 16. 



