280 PUFF-ADDERS 



appearance of the poison as it leaves the cobra's 

 mouth is similar to that which would be presented 

 by a tiny jet of colourless fluid projected with 

 great force from a hypodermic syringe. 



Another extremely unpleasant and very 

 common type of reptile is the somewhat sluggish 

 but very venomous Puff-adder. These semi- 

 torpid, rather prettily marked creatures only 

 achieve a length of about 3 feet, but are broad 

 and corpulent in proportion. Their venom is said 

 to be only occasionally fatal to human beings, but 

 is probably invariably so to the small mammals 

 and batrachians which form its staple diet. They 

 are very fond of taking refuge from the cold in 

 travellers' clothing and blankets, in the folds of 

 the tent curtain, or any corner which promises 

 warmth and shelter. They love to lie extended 

 in native paths and game tracks, and administer 

 — if nothing worse — many a shock to the nerves 

 of human beings advancing, it may be, somewhat 

 carelessly through the bush. I suppose their 

 powers of hearing must be poor, and thus they 

 are, unhke other reptiles, unaware of the approach 

 of an intruder until he is close at hand, when they 

 utter a low threatening hiss and strike, if the 

 opportunity present itself, with lightning speed 

 and serious result. More than once in my 

 African outhouses I have had unexpected and 

 extremely unwelcome meetings with puff-adders, 

 one of which succeeded in striking me, but luckily 

 on a thick^ leather shooting-boot. Dogs fre- 

 quently fall victims to their bites. A very hand- 

 some, well-bred Irish terrier belonging to a friend 



