Chap. VS. SERPENTS. 145 



injecting poison on external objects as for keeping in any animal 

 or bird of which they have got hold. In the case of the Dasy- 

 peltis inornatus (Smith) the teeth are small, and favourable for 

 the passage of thin-shelled eggs without breaking. The egg is 

 taken in unbroken till it is within the gullet or about 2 inches 

 behind the head. The gular teeth placed there break the shell 

 without spilling the contents, as would be the case if the front 

 teeth were large. The shell is then ejected. Others appear to 

 be harmless, and even edible. Of the latter sort is the large 

 python, metse pallah, or tari. The largest specimens of this are 

 about 15 or 20 feet in length ; they are perfectly harmless, and 

 live on small animals, chiefly the rodentia ; occasionally the 

 steinbuck and pallah fall victims, and are sucked into its com- 

 paratively small mouth hi boa-constrictor fashion. One we shot 

 was 11 feet 10 inches long, and as thick as a man's leg. When 

 shot through the spine, it was capable of lifting itself up about 

 five feet high, and opened its mouth in a threatening manner, 

 but the poor thing was more inclined to crawl away. The flesh 

 is much relished by the Bakalahari and Bushmen : they carry 

 away each his portion, like logs of wood, over their shoulders. 



Some of the Bayeiye we met at Sebituane's ford pre- 

 tended to be unaffected by the bite of serpents, and showed the 

 feat of lacerating then- arms with the teeth of such as are un- 

 furnished with the poison-fangs. They also swallow the poison, by 

 way of gaining notoriety ; but Dr. Andrew Smith put the sin- 

 safety into one of the most imminent danger. This I have often seen exem- 

 plified in the case of birds and snakes ; and I have heard of instances equally 

 curious, in which antelopes and other quadrupeds have been so bewildered by 

 the sudden appearance of crocodiles, and by the grimaces and contortions they 

 practised, as to be unable to fly or even move from the spot towards which 

 they were approaching to seize them." (Dr. Andrew Smith's ' Eeptilia.') 



In addition to these interesting statements of the most able naturalist from 

 whom I have taken this note, it may be added that fire exercises a fascinating 

 effect on some kinds of toads. They may be seen rushing into it in the 

 evenings without ever starting back on feeling pain. Contact with the hot 

 embers rather increases the energy with which they strive to gain the hottest 

 parts, and they never cease their struggles for the centre even when their juices 

 are coagulating and their limbs stiffening in the roasting heat. Various insects 

 also are thus fascinated ; but the scorpions may be seen coming away from 

 the fire in fierce disgust, and they are so irritated as to inflict at that time their 

 most painful siings. 



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