NINLH- ANNUAL REPORT, Hoe 
Cobra is repeatedly bitten, but it regards with stoical indifference 
the superficial wounds inflicted by the teeth of its prey, and con- 
tinues working the body of the snake along in its jaws with the 
idea of reaching the head, which portion is first swallowed. 
Sometimes the quarry is seized near the head, and in such cases 
it is soon disappearing down the Cobra’s throat. Frequently, 
however, the Cobra has some trouble in working its jaws toward 
the victim’s head. At such times the larger reptile pauses often, 
and awaits an opportunity of seizing the other by the neck. If 
the attacked snake makes a movement to bite the Cobra on head 
or neck, there is a counter movement of great rapidity. The 
body is released and the approaching head is seized with aston- 
ishing quickness, after which performance the engulfing process 
begins without more ado. 
The fine representative of this species in the Reptile House has 
no aversion to taking snakes that have been freshly killed. Its 
good-nature permits economy to be practiced, for in times of 
scarcity each snake offered is first killed and stuffed to its full 
capacity with frogs or rats, and thus it is made to equal in bulk 
and nourishment a half-dozen snakes of equal length not treated 
in this manner. It is alleged that the King Cobra feeds upon liz- 
ards, an assertion rendered rather doubtful by the action of this 
specimen. Its cage is shared by half a dozen species of small 
lizards, which for several years have interested visitors by their 
lively antics, running fearlessly up and down the walls, and even 
along the snake’s body, without molestation or any hostile notice 
on the ophidian’s part. 
After feeding, all Cobras delight to bathe. Their positions in 
the water often alarm uninitiated visitors, for they frequently 
float on their sides or their backs in a manner that suggests an 
animal for some time drowned and inflated with the gases of 
decomposition. 
Relationship—In habits and structural relationships, several 
genera of snakes closely approach the serpents of the Genus Naja. 
These are the species of the African genus Sepedon, the Indian 
and Malayan genus Bungarus, and the Australian genera Pseu- 
dechis and Hoplocephalus. All of these snakes display a vivacity 
and intelligence strongly appealing to the Cobras. Hoplocephalus 
and Sepedon are very strongly suggestive of the actions of the 
various species of Naja. 
