THE PUFF ADDER. 
405 
largest of these seen was three feet three inches 
long. The head two inches broad by two long, 
the tail round and thick; the circumference of 
the body was five inches. On the belly it was 
a pale straw colour, on the back light brown 
and straw-coloured. It was marked in stripes, 
somewhat resembling small gothic arches, laid 
one oyer the other, and fifteen in number. 
The mouth was large and triangular, and in it 
were found twelve fangs, six on either side, the 
outside pair were, from the roots to the point, 
three quarters of an inch long, very much cur* 
ved, hollow throughout, and with bags of poi- 
son at the root. Through these cavities it 
ejects, or spirts the poison ; and if, in its en- 
counter with enemies, its fangs were broken, it 
had five other pairs, all remaining dormant, 
yet ready on emergency to be erected. This 
is the most deadly Adder in Africa, and pos- 
sesses the peculiarity of springing backwards 
at its prey ; thus throwing him off his guard, 
by first appearing to run away, then spring- 
ing back, and throwing a somerset in the air, 
it seizes it as it comes to the ground. Of these 
there are two varieties, the Black and the 
Brown. 
A dog, bitten by one of these Adders, died 
in forty minutes ; whilst a man, bitten in the 
knee at nine in the morning, although the 
