296 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



snakes and the bite of a Cobra, the latter, in nine cases 

 out of ten, harmlessly gripping the loose part of one's 

 clothing. An ordinary pair of army leggings will pro- 

 duce perfect immunity from Cobra bites — not so 

 against the fangs of another deadly serpent of India 

 and Malaysia, the Tic Polonga or Russell's Viper. The 

 writer has noticed that a Cobra is unable to kill an An- 

 gora guinea pig unless the snake grasps the animal by 

 the leg or nose. When the animal is seized by the body 

 the poison is expended in the fur, the fangs being too 

 short to reach the flesh. Bitten animals die quickly from 

 what appears to be a general paralysis ; during this there 

 are but slight struggles and the victim seems to suffer 

 little pain. Occasionally, the writer has witnessed the 

 ability of Cobras to eject their venom when in a coiled 

 and defensive position. It seems that in striking the 

 snake simultaneously compresses the poison glands by a 

 contraction of the jaw and muscles and ejects the poison, 

 though quite accidentally, in the direction of its annoy- 

 ance. If the fluid should enter the eyes, blindness or 

 death are probable consequences. The habit is common 

 with a South African hooded snake, Sepedon, and with 

 the latter species seems to be quite voluntary. 



Like all the species of Naja the Spectacled Cobra is 

 hardy as a captive, feeding readily and if given proper 

 care, particularly as regards the shedding of its skin, will 

 live for years. As to the skin-shedding process there is 

 often negligence on the snake's part; the old epidermis 

 hardens ; unless the reptile is bathed and the skin removed 

 by hand, the snake sickens and refuses all food. The 

 process of removing the skin is not particularly danger- 

 ous. A stick is placed across the serpent's head; pinned 

 to the ground it is helpless and the operator 'grasps it 

 firmly by the neck ; while holding the snake in a straight- 



