Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-01-19
CAp7UR/NG A B00MSLANCE.
BY a. R. GREELEY.
BY q. K, GREELEY.


cages for the purpose vi studying ther
habits, temperamcnts and intelligence
They were all caught by my own
hands. Out in the country, on IN" vent
and in the bush, ! had watched them
rs much as possible in their native
state and now supplemented this study
by keeping them afterward under my
eyes ut home, This work had car
ried on since September 1873, 50 that
| had acquired Il pretty extensive
knowledge of the snakes of southern
Africa.
All the venomous kinds We're already
in my collection, and OF the harmless
snakes | had over 30 different species
There was, however, a much desired
one still wanting to me, one OF the larg'
est, most interesting. most graceful and
beautifully colored of all the snakes OF
The African woodland-the famous
tree-snake, Bucephalus capensis, the
"boomslange' or tree-snake or the
Dutch settlers. Miles Of bush ] hunted
through, but could never find a boom
slange.
One day had strained my foot, and
it pained me so much that | declared
at the breakfast table that until 1t was
better | did not propose to do any
walking, but would give my foot rest
Before we rose from the table,
Katiir boy came to the door with
letter from Tidmarsh, the director OF
the Grahamstown Botanical gardens,
which said: Come down here as
quickly as you can. have large
boomslange in the oak trees over the
avenue.
Up jumped from the table, seized
my hat and stick, and away ran on
the strained foot. Now it didn't pain
me. How could | think OF pain, while
the much.desred boomslange was
waiting for me?
At the other side of the town lay the
Botanical gardens. but the distance
didn't matter; in few minutes | was
there. Painting, | rushed in at the
gate: voices rang out; dozen men
called me. They were gazing upwards
into the trees, evidently watching the
snake. They stood III the middle OF
the avenue, each side OF which was
bordered by a line of leafy oaks 50
| branching as almost to meet over the
roadway.
When | got to where the kaflirs
were gazing upward. they pointed out
to me the snake aloft in the trec-tops.
looked sharply. but no snake could
| see He's big one said they. Hes
| six feet long" But size didn't make
him easy to discern among the leaves.
| Strain my eyes as might, couldn't
| get II glimpse of him.
One of the men threw up a stone and
then he moved ANA as he moved saw
him. And as saw him. ran eagerly
to tree and began to climb. Keep
your eyes on him now. every man Of
you" | shouted. II can't watch him
and climb at the same time
To take ones eyes from him for
moment would be to rose him. so
closely did his colors harmonic with
| the greenisl leaves and rurpIish gray
branches and twigs among which he
lay.
Shining up the tree, was soon
among the limbs, and began to make
my way toward where the boomslanS
was watching the group of upiurned
| Kaffir faces beneath. AS | was now
among the foliage, ! could not see
| him, and had to let the Katlirs from
below direct my progress through the
| leaf-clad branches. 1t was difficult
work, for the long snake-stick which
took with me hampered me by running
foul of the branches
"Upward-now over your left
shoulder" shouted the kattirs; and
accordingly upward over the left
shoulder / climbed. Soon | was near
the snake. | could see him coiled part
ly, and partly stretched out, at the tip
of a branch. His tail was well dashed
around it. his body half hidden by the
leaves, while his long slender neck
and bulldog head were thrust out
foot and a half in my direction.
Evidently was not taking him at
all unawares. for his eyes, exceedingly
large and bright, were intently watch
ing my efforts to reach him, and his
inquiring tongue every moment shot
forth it's trembling, doublepointed
tips, menacing me, as | thought, for
intruding in his leafy dominions.
Otherwise he was as motionless as the
branch on which he lay.
climbed toward him until my face
came within six feet of him, but still
he never stirred except for that quiv-
ering, doubled pointed tongue, which
now almost continually vibrated its
fine thread-like extremities in the air.
The warm sun was shining full upon
him, and his great bright eyes seemed
to glitter with malice, but still he re-
manned motionless; and yet, | believe,
he was fully as anxious and as nervous
as | was.
Here | was face to face with him in
the tree-top. What to do, | knew not.
Was he venomous? Were they true
those tales | had heard of his virulent
poison those stories of lingering
chronic sores caused by his bites,
where the bitten part scaled off year
after year, and sloughed away? |
thought of these things now and was
frightened.
knew that he had not the elaborate
poison apparatus of the deadly puff
adder and cobra; but still. had seen
in the dead ones which | had dissected
and examined, that the boomslang was
"doubtful-snake"- is. that he
had large channelled or grooved teeth
at the posterior end of each outer dental
row, and that outside each upper jaw
there was small gland beneath the
skin. What was this gland for, If not
to secrete venom? And why was the
tooth channeiled, if not to convey ven
ON into the wound made by 1t. These