THE TRANSITION TO LAND 395 



Death from snake bite in the United States is very low, only twenty 

 to thirty per year, which is almost nothing in comparison with the forty 

 to fifty thousand that die from automobile accidents; but in tropical 

 countries deaths are much more frequent. There are many thousands of 

 deaths in India from the bite of the hooded cobra. This interesting 

 snake, when alert, spreads the ribs at the anterior part of the body to 

 form the hood. It often goes into the houses in search of mice, and 

 many people are bitten in their own homes. Unfortunately, the ma- 

 jority of the people hold them in superstitious reverence and do not kill 

 them for fear that they may be the reincarnation of their late grand- 



Photo by Winchester 



Fig. 26.18. The Egyptian Cobra. This deadly snake is shown with its hood spread 



ready to strike and inject its venom which may cause death in five minutes. Cleopatra 



is said to have committed suicide by pressing such a snake to her bosom. 



mother or other relatives. This cobra may be six feet long, but it has 

 the short erect fangs characteristic of the family and has to chew the 

 fangs into the skin. Ordinary clothing would be a great protection from 

 them, but the natives usually go around bare legged and bare footed. 



The king cobra of Africa and parts of Asia stands supreme among 

 the poisonous snakes of the world. It grows to a length of twelve feet 

 and has venom able to cause death in a few minutes. When disturbed it 

 does not show the nervous, threshing movements of many other snakes, 

 but gracefully raises its head, spreads its hood, and may approach the 

 intruder weaving from side to side ready to strike. 



Africa is also noted for the spitting cobra that is able to spit its 

 venom six or eight feet. It instinctively aims for the eyes and temporary 

 blindness will result if even a small quantity of the poison reaches them. 



