NAJA H^EMACHATES. 



as broad as the head, and edged with a quantity of loose skin, which forms a 

 fold on each side when the reptile is quiet and free from excitement, but 

 when the case is otherwise, the fold is extended laterally, so as to form a 

 broad fringe on each side, which constitutes what in snakes of this genus is 

 denominated the hood. Body subcylindrical or subtriangular, and covered 

 with a skin only loosely attached to the parts within it ; the scales covering 

 the skin are ovate, and all, excepting those of the two rows on each side 

 nearest to the abdominal plates, strongly carinated. Tail short, subcylin- 

 drical, and pointed, the skin closely connected to the internal parts, and 

 the scales towards its commencement slightly carinated, the rest smooth. 

 Abdomen broad. The scales of the body are disposed in oblique transverse 

 rows, nineteen in each. Length of specimen figured thirty-one inches, of 

 which the tail measures four and a half inches. Abdominal plates, 129; 

 subcaudal scales, 33. These were the numbers of the specimen figured ; the 

 following are those counted on others : 150 — 30 ; 143 — 43. 



The range of this species is very considerable, and specimens of it have been found in almost 

 every district of South Africa which has yet been explored. It appears to prefer localities in 

 which the soil is loose, sandy, and coated with brush-wood : hence individuals are to be very 

 readily procured on the sandy flats near to Cape Town and the coasts of the colony. It is one 

 of the most vigilant of snakes, and its resting place can very rarely be approached before it is 

 all activity, either commencing to fly, preparing to maintain its ground, or make an attack. 

 When it flies it almost invariably seeks some subterranean retreat, which is in general discover- 

 able without difficulty, from its being usually a resident of situations where the burrows of 

 mice, moles, or other small quadrupeds exist in abundance. The aborigines, as well as the 

 colonists, reckon this to be the most courageous of all the South African snakes, and they highly 

 dread the power of its poison. When in confinement, and irritated, it evinces great ferocity, 

 it opens its mouth so as to be in readiness to seize on any object that may approach within its 

 reach, and while open the poisonous fluid is to be seen distilling in drops from the fangs, which 

 are on such occasions always raised to the proper position for performing their functions. 

 During such periods of excitement it often ejects, by some means, a portion of the fluid to a 

 distance from its mouth ; and the inhabitants even affirm that it is able to cast it more than 

 several feet, and that in doing so it generally attempts to lodge it in the eyes of men or 

 animals. Elsewhere I shall take occasion to remark more at length upon this reputed power. 



