250 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII. 



cephalus monticola peculiar to the Eastern Himalayas, the Assam 

 Hills, and Nicobar Islands, and as an abnormality in the little 

 XylopMs perroteti known from the hills of Southern India. In 

 neither of these does the 3rd supralabial shield touch the eye as it 

 does always in the cobra. 



If a typical hood mark is present either of the monocellate, or 

 binocellate type the diagnosis is also easy, but in many specimens 

 there is no hood mark at all, and in death rigor mortis stiffens the 

 joints so that the hood is not easily demonstrable. It is for this 

 reason that attention to shield characters is recommended. If the 

 hood is seen dilated in life there shoiild not be any doubt about 

 the snake, but it must be remembered, that the hamadryad (X bun- 

 garus) has a well developed hood and that other snakes flatten the 

 neck to a more limited degree. The cobra has been confused 

 by Europeans and natives with the Pseudoxenodon macrops in the 

 Eastern Himalayas, and Assam, and Burmese Hills, and with the 

 Zamenis fasciolatus a snake common in the Western Ghats, but 

 also known from the Eastern Ghats, and the Ganges Valley. 



Disposition. — The cobra is usually not an aggressive snake. 

 When flushed in its native haunts it nearly always tries to escape, 

 and usually succeeds in doing so, but is often shot before it gets 

 to a place of safety. I have encountered many, and find that at 

 close quarters if suddenly disturbed, or it may be if stepped upon, 

 it quickly erects itself, hisses loudly, sways backwards and for- 

 wards and awaits its opportunity to strike. If one keeps still, the 

 menace is quickly over, and the snake drops its head, and slinks 

 off. An incautious movement however causes it to turn, erect 

 itself once more, and challenge the intruder again. Many good 

 observers have remarked on its timid nature. Mr. Phipson even 

 went so far as to describe it as an exceedingly timid snake. 

 Elliot* says : "Of one thing I feel certain, the cobra is a timid snake, 

 that it is not at all inclined to bite, and unless assailed, and so 

 infuriated will not bite, even if trodden on by accident so long as 

 the snake is not hurt." He cites two cases known to him where 

 a cobra was actually stepped on, but in neither case did it inflict 

 a bite. Wall (A. J.) remarks that a full grown cobra can be 

 handled with perfect safety, and Flower mentions one that was 

 picked up in his garden by a servant, and brought to him alive 

 not having attempted to bite him. 



In Chitral one day an adult passed right through my pony's legs, 

 whilst I was walking along the road with another mounted officer. 

 The snake did not even erect itself though in danger of being trod- 

 den upon, but glided through the pony's feet, and then when three or 

 four yards distant turned, half erected itself for a second, and then 



* Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore, p. 16-4. 



