VIPERA BRACHYURA. 77 



bands ; head indistinct ; tail short. Length four and 

 a half feet. 



This is a native of Africa, and is well known at the Cape by the 

 name of the Puff Adder. The general colour is a dusky brown, 

 but variegated with black and cream-coloured transverse stripes, 

 of which it is not easy to convey an idea by mere description. 



The head, which is short, round, and covered with small oval 

 carinated scales, is not distinguished from the rest of the body by 

 any appearance of neck, or contraction ; the mouth large, wide, 

 and armed with four large incurvated fangs, two in each jaw. The 

 body is disproportionately short and thick, measuring seven inches 

 in circumference in the thickest part, and from three feet six to 

 four feet in length. The scales, which in many parts are tipped 

 with white, are large, strongly carinated, oblong, closely imbricate, 

 and so loose that the animal is said to have the faculty of elevating 

 them at pleasure, or when irritated, and of closing them again with 

 a loud rustling noise. The scales on the upper part of the body 

 are elegantly speckled with pale yellow, cinereous grey, black, 

 brown, pale yellow, and white. The abdominal scuta are broad , 

 of a pale colour, and marked with numerous small irregular 

 dusky or blackish spots. The bite of this reptile is said to 

 be extremely fatal, taking effect so rapidly as to leave the person 

 who has the misfortune to be bitten no chance of saving 

 his life but by instantly cutting out the flesh surrounding the 

 wound. " Although," says Mr. Burchell, " I have often met with 

 this serpent, yet, happily, no opportunity occurred of witnessing 

 the consequences of its bite ; but, from the universal dread in 

 which it is held, I have no doubt of its being one of the most 

 venomous of Southern Africa. There is a peculiarity which ren - 

 ders it most dangerous, and which ought to be known by every 



