that the traveller is exposed to the danger of being bitten: that
season was now just commencing.
This adder measured in the thickest part, seven inches in circumference,
and three feet seven inches in length ; and, by its disproportionate
thickness, may easily be distinguished from all the
others of this country. I have seen one about four feet and a half
long, which, probably, is the greatest size it ever attains. The
general color is a dusky brown, but varied with black and cream-
coloured transverse stripes, in shapes of which it is not easy to convey
an idea by mere description.
The mode of travelling, and want of room in my waggon, did
not admit of carrying with me all that was necessary for preserving
in spirits, objects of Natural History. The bulk, the weight, the
breaking of bottles, or the leaking or evaporation of kegs, had deterred
me in Cape Town from making any provision for this purpose.
Resolved, however, to neglect no object which my time, or
circumstances, might present an opportunity of collecting, and
bringing home, I found myself, in many instances, taught by necessity,
methods and contrivances which I might not otherwise have
discovered; not only in the department of Natural History, but in
many other affairs belonging to an expedition of this nature. These
methods, whenever they occur, will be disclosed without reserve, in
the hope that, to persons under similar circumstances, they may
prove useful hints.
For some time at a loss how it would be possible to preserve
this Puff-adder, the idea was at last imagined of drying the skin, on
the same principle, and in the same manner, as would have been
done with a large leaf: but then it was to be feared that by removing
the flesh, all its colors would be lost; I, however, determined to
try the experiment. The whole process was extremely simple;
and consisted merely in cutting it open, along the under part,
entirely from the head to the point of the tail, and stripping off
the skin, which was found to separate with the greatest facility.
All the flesh was cut away as closely as possible to the head, which
was left ertire. The skin was then spread flat on a sheet of
large strong paper, and placed between a number of other sheets to
absorb the moisture. It was put into the press, leaving the head
out so as not to be crushed, and kept there till perfectly dry; taking
care every day, or every other day, to remove the sheets that had
become damp, and replace them by an equal quantity of dry paper ;
but the skin itself was never separated from that sheet to which its
inner side had adhered.
The success of this first experiment, pleased me exceedingly;
for not only was the skin dried as well as could be desired, but the
colors, and more delicate markings, were preserved with all the
dearness and beauty of the living animal. The principle thus discovered,
the practice became considerably improved in the course of
my travels : and, for the convenience of bringing the whole of the
subject in one point of view, I shall in this place communicate the
latest results.
The skin requires no antiseptic preparation, nor any varnish to
be applied to i t : nor is any gum, or paste, at all necessary for
making it adhere to the paper ; a certain glutinous property of its
own being sufficient for that purpose. No danger whatever is to be
feared from handling the body; nor will any of its juices, even if
adhering to the fingers; produce unpleasant consequences, since
even the venom itself may be, and frequently is, swallowed without
harm. On this subject some information is reserved for a future
period of the Journal; and is alluded to here, merely to show how
little cause there is for apprehensions on this head, provided there
be no recent wound or scratch in the operator’s skin through whidi
any partide of venom can get in contact with the blood. This
would be attended with consequences, dangerous in proportion as
the species of snake should be more or less poisonous. As the
fangs are moveable, and may easily be turned inwards, great care
should be taken that they do not stand out of the mouth; for death
may yet lurk in them,-though all life may have left the serpent: nor
would I give an assurance that even after the lapse of years, the
fatal power may not still reside in the desiccated venom.
In most serpents, the skin may be cut open along the middle of