3^8 



REPTILIA 



are extremely small, their wounds are more quickly fatal than those 

 of the vipers with large teeth. Spectacled cobras are said to be 

 most vicious when in captivity, apparently proving untamable. 

 Ditmars states that cobra venom ejected and entering the eyes 

 will produce blindness or death. Cobras feed on small rodents, 

 birds and amphibians and can swallow eggs entire. They reach a 

 length of over 6 feet. (Figure 175.) 



Fig. 175. Asp. (Courtesy of X. Y. Zool. Soc.) 



The Egyptian cobra or Asp ( Naja haje) is a smaller snake than 

 the spectacled cobra, reaching a length of not more than five feet. 

 It is extremely intelligent and startlingly quick in its movements. 



The king cobra or Hamadryas ( Naja bungarus) reaches the 

 length of 12 feet. It is said to be the most deadly of the Old World 



