24 EINAR LÖNNBERG, REPTILES. 



Viperidae. 



Causus rhombeatus Licht. 



Blgb.: Cat. Snakés B. M. III. p. 467. 



Since the rainy season had prevailed for some days in the beginning of April 

 reptiles and especially batrachians began to appear in numbers in certain places. On 

 a grass meadow outside the forest reserve at the Limuru road, about 6 — 7 kilometres 

 from Nairobi I collected frogs of various kinds, and was especially keen to obtain 

 specimens of Phrijnomantis bifasciata in a pool. Suddenly one of the accompanying 

 negroes cried ont »nyoka» and stepped back with great fear expressed in his face. 

 I looked round and perceived a small snake, and I seldom have seen anything more 

 furious. Although we had not disturbed it, and although it was 4 — 5 metres from 

 us it hissed very loudly, struck violently in our direction, and even moved towards 

 us about half a metre. I shot it with the specimen gun without injuring the head, 

 and it proved to be a Causus rhombeatus. As this species is known to feed on frogs 

 it was probably trying to catch some of those found in the locality mentioned. 



Bitis arietans Merr. 



Blgr.: Cat. Snakes B. M. III, p. 493.' 



A young Puff Adder of this species was caught at Guaso Nyiri */a, and another 

 at Nairobi *U 1911. The former from the dry country was decidedly paler than the 

 Nairobi specimen. 



