The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-29

time. The colubrldac or common
harmless snakes eyes have round pu-
pills and sleep at night. being active
chiefly during the hours OF sltnlight.. sf----.
During extensive travels in the wilder
parts of the world In prosecution OF
he study or snakes. have iiid many
interesting adventures with sleeping
ones Some Of these encounters had In
them seasoning of danger, while 9TH
crs were marked by touch of the
ridiculous, but all Of them were anus
ms, and Instructive too ipasmuch aa
they showed the behavior OF the sleep
erS before and after their waking.
! shall never forget my first meeting
with Il large puff adder. one Of the most
dendly of SerpCnts In Curric's Itloof
near GrnhamStown, in South Africa.
I Tired and exhausted with the heat of
the sun. had descended to the bed of
"A dricd-up' stream to lie down and rsst
beneath the leafy trees which shaded
1t. ] chose a spot more than usually
secluded. had taken off my coat and
laid II on the grass ana was about to
stretch myself on the slope With my
feet to q tree that was old ana de-
caYinr, when ] was struck by the
strange beauty OF what appeared to DO
I3r"" rnngua. such as often grows on
ancient trees. II was quite close tn the
trunk between The prctruding roots II
was colored differently from all the
iNnSi had previously seen. Deep vel
Vet black aud golden yellow II was. In
form IL was flat and circular and was
hbont foot IN diameter Charmed
by its curious loveiness. ! approached
and stopped over to examine it. Uor-
ror OF horrors! j. was n rrightful puff
addcr. 81 that time was IL beginner
and knew little Of snakes except what
! heard or read These dreadful pufi
adders are undoubtedly among the
n h. De-
in south Africa had died Of their bites
within the year and every ono told me
that they could actually jump back.
Yards for dist,rca Of several feet
For moment stood there. still stoor.
ms. tr2"sf~nI with sc3" nnd actonish.
mcnt. NV blood felt chilling in my
veins. weld j." iurrn nrd Kill me rs
! stood? Knowing well that my life
denendcd on caution. ] hcran to move
backwards MS slowly ns 7 could Whcr
got six feet AWAY 7 felt safer and
thcn--Etrangc compounds TINT Nor arc
-"nrioriiv CONQUERED fear. and ]
stopped To admire him. | cloatcd over
his lovclircse. | coveted him for y net
and determined TO carturc hin, alive
That he saw me ] felt assured. ils
eyes were open. hadn't yet fathamcd
the secret Of his sleep.
a STRUGGLE WITH y PUFF ADDER
He was lying in rat path evidently
watching for rats and was too busy to
notice me. Trusting th0t he would wait
there went for assistance and soon
returned with Il companion aud Il stout
pole eight or ten feet long. Approaching
cautiOusl" got this over his neck and
pressed him forcihly to the ground To
prevent his getting loose. my compan,
ion also held on 10 it.
BE careful To hold him down." said
7. for failure means Death"
We nrobahy pressed pretty heavily.
for both were excited and aDnrehensivc
of danger. though fully determined to
get him. Trusting my cc,npanion to
hold the sticl: acrC:s his neck. / man,
agcr 10 get my fingers round his throat
inst behind the head. lifted him up.
He was as Thick as n mans arm. but not
more than two and a half feet in length.
To my establishment, he had revcr mov,'
ed. and even now that had him by the
throat the only sign of life he gave was
the eXertioa OF his double pointed ton.
que. AS my coat was lying on the grass,
and | did not wish to go through the.
town in shirtsleevcs, I determined to
put il on, but how was to do this. hold
Ing living puff adder by the neck /
dared not transfer him from one hand