ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



115.3 



I'liattK btj R.L. Ditmars 



RINCIIAI.S 



cage and injected it into animals. It. in every 

 case, jjroved fatal to them, killing them oH' 

 as rapidly as if the snake had bitten them. 

 Venom whicji had been on the glass in a dry 

 state for two years was found to be quite as 

 poisonous as fresh venom. The Ringhals is 

 well aware of its spitting power and its value 

 as a weapon of defense, which is proved by the 

 intelligent way in which it goes about the 

 business.* * * * I have experimented many 

 scores of times and know for certain the Ring- 

 hals always directs its venom at the face of 

 its foe. It is needless to go into detail as to 

 all my methods to ascertain that this is a fact. 



"It seems wonderful that the snake should 

 possess the instinctive knowledge that unless 

 the fluid enters the eyes, it is innocuous, for 

 it has no elfect whatsoever upon the unbroken 

 skin. This spitting power has undoubtedly been 

 evolved as an extra weapon of defence — the 

 serpent's object being to blind its foe and then 

 make its escape. 



"It is quite a common occurrence for dogs to 

 lose the sight of one or both eyes. When out 

 in the field one day, my pointer dog became 

 suddenly rigid and 'pointed.' Advancing to 

 investigate, a Ringhals reared up, lunged for- 



ward and the next instant the dog was running 

 about and crying out most piteously. I did not 

 know in those days what to do in such emer- 

 gencies, so I got the dog home as best I could, 

 but the poor beast never recovered his sight." 



The preceding habits of the Ringhals are of 

 particular interest to readers of the Bulletin 

 just now, as we have received graphic letters 

 from Mr. R. L. Garner, who is in Africa col- 

 lecting gorillas for the New York Zoological 

 .Societv and in the letter Mr. Garner recites 

 the menace of the terrible snake described. 



Continuing our examination of Mr. Fitzsim- 

 on's book we are surprised to learn that the 

 country co\ered by his researches contains a 

 more formidable snake than the Indo-Malayan 

 king cobra to which we had previously 

 awarded first honors. From past observations 

 the writer had imagined this serpent to be the 

 most crafty and diabolical of all poisonous 

 snakes, but South Africa appears to have a 

 rival, which, from .Mr. Fitzsimon's description, 

 is the most dangerous reptile in the world. 

 This is the mamba, of which there are two 

 varieties, representing a species technically 

 known as Dendraspis angusiiceps. The mamba 

 is actually a tree cobra. Our enthusiasm for 

 the possession of this vigorous rejitile grows 

 with every paragraph of its habits and a letter 

 has already left for South Africa containing 

 an order for niambas. Mr. Fitzsimons says in 

 part: 



"In Natal the most dreaded of all snakes 

 is the Black Mamba, and a rejjort of one being 

 in the neighborhood sends a thrill of fear 

 through peo])le living in the vicinity. And 

 well it may, for during the pairing season these 

 snakes are very aggressive, and will at times 

 bodily attack any one courageous enough to 

 venture into their haunts. They often prowl 

 around the habitations of man, drawn thither 

 by the presence of chickens, rats and mice. 

 If attacked they will show fight, and so quick 

 are their movements that the aggressor must 

 have all his wits about him and be well armed, 

 else the chances are he will lose his life. 



"Black Mambas have been killed which 

 measured thirteen feet from nose to tip of tail. 

 It is almost a daily occurrence for Black Mam- 

 bas averaging eight to nine feet in length to 

 be killed in Natal, Zululand and Transvaal. 



"Some of the favorite resting places of Mam- 

 bas are the branches of thick-foliaged trees. 

 Entwining themselves amongst the twigs they 

 lie perfectly still. They frequently select 

 branches of trees overhanging the Kafir paths 



