EAST AFRICAN SNAKES. 897 



AxRACTASriS KOSTllATA Glilltll. 



I31gi-. Gilt. Snakes, iii. 189G, p. 514. 



Six specimens of the Snouted Burrowing Yiper were collected 

 at Lumbo )Vom August to October 1918, and a female at Kilosa 

 in April 192:3. 



All but one were females, and the largest of these measured 

 24|7 inches (614 + 8); a male had 21, not 23, scales round mid-body. 



These snakes are surprisingly quick, and when going to pick 

 one up in a tent (it having been discovered by the moving of a 

 box) it struck at my thumb. As I saw the snake lunge I Avas 

 also quick in withdrawing and just felt a prick on the top of my 

 thumb, which at the time ha,ppened to be protected with some- 

 what horny skin ; no venom was visible. 



