184 



FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



mud -fish does. The amphibians too, along with some reptiles, 

 especially water-turtles and crocodiles, burrow in the mud, and 

 wile away the deadly winter in sleep. On the other hand, all the 

 terrestrial reptiles are at their liveliest throughout the torrid season. 



Fig 27. — secretary bird and Aspis 



and contribute not a little to enliven the dreary steppe which they 

 inhabit in extraordinary numbers. Besides the vipers which we 

 have already mentioned, there is another venomous snake of the 

 steppe — ^the royal Aspis or Uraus — one of the deadliest of all.** It 

 was with this creature, more famous or infamous than the horned 



