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Bangalore, a station where Rupees 550 were spent in 1870 

 and Rupees 500 in 1871 on this very object, no less than 

 1,400 venomous snakes were brought in for reward (1,225 

 to myself) between 1st May and 80th September 1873. 

 In August they were brought in at an average of 32 

 daily, and the expenditure became so great that the reward 

 was reduced from 8 annas to 3 annas. Notwithstandinor 

 this reduction, the venomous snakes still come in (at the 

 present date) though at a slower rate, and I have not the 

 slightest doubt that for years to come 2,000 cobras annually 

 could be produced by the 20 square miles comprising 

 Bangalore and the immediate neighbourhood. From obser- 

 vations on the numbers of cobras produced at each breeding 

 season and the small extent of the ground actually 

 hunted over in the destruction of the 1,400 cobras, I 

 estimate the cobra population of this station at 1,000 to each 

 square mile ; Bangalore is, however, no worse off than the 

 average of other parts of India the only difference is that 

 the cobra is nearly the only venomous snake found in 

 Bangalore (See Appendix) while in coast stations venomous 

 snakes are generally more numerous and in greater variety. 

 Now with a venomous snake population which I may 

 fairly estimate at an average of 1,000 per square mile, four 

 times the human population, the cost of exterminating the 

 breed can be readily calculated. In these hard times a lac of 

 rupees cannot be thrown away ; hundred of lacs would have 

 to be spent before any diminution in the venomous snake 

 population could be appreciable. One slight compensation 

 might be found ; a good deal of the money spent in rewards 

 would return to Government in the shape of duty on 

 spirituous liquors. 



