1?87.] MR. E. SYMONDS ON SOUTH-AFRICAN SNAKES. 489 



Head flattened, triangular. Neck narrower than the base of head, 

 flattened out like a hood when disturbed. 



Teeth. — One palatine row on each side of the upper jaw ; in front, 

 on each side of upper jaw, a conical hollow tooth, immovable, slightly 

 curved, and partially covered by the gum, which is apparently retrac- 

 tile ; lower jaw with one row on each side. Behind the' jaws is 

 situated, one on each side, a gland or bag containing a jelly-like 

 fluid, with a duct leaduig to the large tooth in the upper jaw ; the 

 lining membrane of this gland is rather gelatinous ; on pressing the 

 gland fluid oozes out of the tooth ; the gland, which is almond- 

 shaped, rounded at the posterior end, lies between two small muscles, 

 the fibres of which cross one another, apparently acting as an ejector 

 or compressor. 



Pupils circular. 



Colour. — Back a dull slaty black; belly bright glossy black, with 

 two white bands, the first 6 inches from the nose, consisting of about 

 four shields, beyond which the white colour does not extend, these 

 are followed by four black shields, and then by the second white 

 band consisting of about five shields ; the shields below the vent 

 are double. 



Habits. — This is one of the commonest Snakes about Kroonstad ; 

 it often does not move until it is approached pretty closely, when it 

 will creep into a hole if not molested, but if frightened stands up 

 with neck much dilated, and if, in trying to hit it, you miss it, it 

 comes straight at you rather rapidly and will spit with remarkable 

 accuracy for your face ; one that I caught alive spat 5 feet. The fluid 

 seems acrid and may blister slightly on a tender skin ; if it goes into 

 the eye, it occasions a good deal of smarting for perhaps a day. 

 These Snakes are said to be very poisonous, but I know of no 

 authenticated case of any one being bitten, and, according to my 

 experience of several live ones that I have had, they very rarely bite, 

 but always spit until the saliva is exhausted. On sevcal occasions I 

 gave them live mice for food, and they have spat at them until their 

 fur was quite wet ; but only on one occasion did one of them bite a 

 mouse, and tiien the mouse rolled over dead instantly. They would 

 not eat a mouse, but seemed very fond of frogs ; they are also rather 

 fond of hen's eggs, and I have seen them curled up on a nest of eggs. 



These Snakes do not strike with very great rapidity, and certaTnly 

 not with the accuracy of a Puff'-Adder (which is not only most 

 accurate but also strikes with fearful rapidity). They grow to a o-ood 

 size, the largest 1 have seen being nearly (j feet loilg ; the youno-er 

 ones are of a grey-brow n colour mottled with black. They generally 

 live in holes, but sometimes take to water and swim well. Their 

 Dutch name is " Ringhals." 



