dog in twenty-six minutes. A man if not treated will succumb to exhaustion 
from hemorrhages, tetanus or gastric disturbances, in from one to fourteen 
days. 
The tic polonga is a rich tan color. Three rows of black rings bordered 
with white or yellow run the entire length of its body. Though it usually in¬ 
habits the plains, it is also found in the mountains of India up to seven 
thousand feet. It avoids the thick jungle. Nocturnal in habits, it lives largely 
on rats, and is consequently numerous in the neighborhood of human settle¬ 
ments. When disturbed, the tic polonga emits a rapidly intermittent hiss, 
producing as loud a tone in the intake as in expiration. The sound is much 
like that produced by a leaking football. In striking, the viper slides for¬ 
ward almost imperceptibly for a foot or more and then springs. 
Because of their large litters which are born six months after mating, 
these snakes are exceedingly abundant in some regions. In the last century 
a British judge had to abandon his house in Ceylon because it was infested 
with tic polongas. The young are more belligerent than their parents and, 
unlike their elders, are said to be cannibalistic. 
In India, the venom of this creature is prescribed in the form of pills 
by native doctors as a treatment for many kinds of diseases. South African 
scientists have done much experimenting with viper venom as a treatment 
for epilepsy. 
PUFF ADDER 
One of the most common African snakes, the puff adder, often lies motion¬ 
less and well camouflaged by its orange-brown color athwart the jungle 
trails. Unlike other snakes, it makes no attempt to get out of the way when 
people approach, but if stepped on, it will respond viciously. Consequently 
many barefoot natives are bitten. Some have been known to die, but as a 
rule the puff adder’s bite is not fatal to man. The hiss of this viper is a 
vigorous puff; hence the name. 
Puff adders are also found in large numbers about human habitations. 
Englishmen and natives have been terrified frequently at finding puff adders 
in their beds. In addition to rats, the serpents eat birds, toads, chickens, 
lizards. About a day after feeding, the body color of the snake has been 
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