92 JUNGLE FOLK 



that geographical isolation has been an important 

 factor in the making of some species. Exactly why 

 this should be so has yet to be explained. 



Another interesting feature of the genus Naia is the 

 dilatable neck or hood. Of what use is this to its pos- 

 sessor ? Zoologists, or at least those of them who sit 

 at home in easy chairs and formulate theories, have 

 an answer to this question. They assert that the hood 

 has a protective value. A cobra when at bay raises 

 the anterior portion of its body, expands its hood, and 

 hisses. This is supposed to terrify those animals which 

 witness the demonstration. Thus Professor Poulton 

 writes : ** The cobra warns an intruder chiefly by 

 attitude and the broadening of its flattened neck, the 

 effect being heightened in some species by the * spec- 

 tacle.' " Unfortunately for this hypothesis, no crea- 

 ture, with the possible exception of man, appears to be 

 in the least alarmed at this display. Dogs regard it as 

 a huge joke. Of this I have satisfied myself again and 

 again, for when out coursing at Muttra we frequently 

 came across cobras, which the dogs used invariably 

 to chase, and we sometimes found it very difficult to 

 keep the dogs off, since they seemed to be unaware 

 that the creature was venomous. Colonel Cunning- 

 ham's experience has been similar. He writes : 

 " Sporting dogs are very apt to come to grief where 

 cobras abound, as there is something very alluring to 

 them in the sight of a large snake when it sits up 

 nodding and snarling ; and it is often difficult to come 

 up in time to prevent the occurrence of irreparable 

 mischief." He also states that many ruminants have 



