190 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL, SOCIETY: 
The writer has never noted the reputed ability of the Cobras 
to forcibly eject their venom when in a coiled and defensive 
position. He realizes, however, that the savage hisses they give 
when striking might possibly expel a drop of their formidable 
secretion to some distance, if it were issuing from the fangs; and 
he believes that there may be instances when in striking and hiss- 
ing simultaneously the snake compresses the poison glands by 
the contraction of the jaw muscles, and ejects the poison, though 
quite accidentally, in the direction of the object of its anger. If 
this fluid should enter the eyes, blindness or death are very proba- 
ble consequences. 
Feeding habits —All of the snakes of the genus Naja are very 
hardy in captivity, and feed readily, if given proper care, which 
appeals particularly to the shedding of the skin, an inability to 
perform which process and consequent disregard on the part of 
the keeper, will result in the death of the majority of specimens. 
Most of the species feed upon small rodents, birds and eggs. The 
latter are swallowed entire. Some species, of which the Indian, 
or Spectacled Cobra, is one, evince a fondness for frogs. In fact, 
as compared to the feeding habits of various serpents of their 
size, several of the species may be said to be omnivorous. 
The food is not suddenly “struck,” as is the custom with the 
long-fanged snakes (l’iperidae), but is actively pursued and 
grasped firmly, the jaws of the reptile being worked in such a 
manner that several wounds are produced by the fangs. After 
thus quickly injecting the animal with its venom, and inflicting 
such a shock that it is powerless to offer voluntary opposition, 
the snake begins at once to swallow its prey, paying little atten- 
tion to the struggles which some creatures continue during the 
entire process of deglutition. 
During the periods of feeding, these serpents sometimes fight 
viciously with each other, producing wounds which to other ani- 
mals soon would prove fatal, but resulting in no ill effects upon 
the snakes themselves, they being entirely immune to the effects 
of their own poison. 
The King Cobra (N. bungarius) is a cannibalistic species, in 
captivity usually refusing everything but snakes. While feeding 
it not only displays considerable cunning, but also great agility. 
When a snake is placed in the cage, the Cobra dashes upon it, 
seizes it by the middle of the body, and within a few seconds’ time 
the fangs have done their work. Snakes, however, are rather slow 
to succumb to the venom of these reptiles. On the part of the 
victim there is vigorous opposition to being thus treated. The 
