68 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



ors. From book to book the old yarns of bis fondness for milk 

 and bis susceptibility to music are banded down as beirlooms, 

 and will continue to find believers until writing naturalists keep 

 living cobras at tbeir elbows. 



Under tbe general name " cobra " are included several species, 

 differing little in general appearance. Tbey are found all over 

 southern Asia and throughout the entire continent of Africa. 

 In India, Na^a tripudians is common ; in North Africa, Naja 

 haja ; and in South Africa, Sepedon ]i(Emachates. In the other 

 continents no true cobra exists. They are all hooded snakes, and 



Fig. 1. Cobra di Oapello {Naja tripudians). 



all exceedingly venomous. In color they vary much ; some are 

 yellow, some are brown, others black while in general all are 

 banded more or less distinctly with regular light and dark rings. 

 They are usually about four feet in length and two inches in 

 diameter, but can attain to six feet. 



All terrestrial deadly serpents may be divided into two groups 

 the ViperidcB, which have the head covered with small, irregular 

 scales ; and the Elapidce,, which have it covered with large, regu- 

 larly disposed plates. Taking the rattlesnake as the representa- 

 tive of the Viperidm and the cobra of the Elapidce, it will be 

 instructive to note some of the differences between these two 

 famous poisoners. The head in the rattler is broad and flat and 



