7V/ A' rnMM,,\ .IN/', OR CUBRSJtA. !" 



\TI-I.T,..!. HIM in any OMB it would be Decennary to handle the really poiaononn reptile for 

 ill-- I.III-INIS,. <>f .-iT'-.-tiru' tli.- exchange, and, in nn opinion, tin- notHHWrj rnnflh handling of 

 ili.- .-i.Mitir.- would I*- a matter of no small danger. Bin.-.- uto this -ul.j.vt at some 



length, ami ivcnrds tin- n-xiilt of along series of <-\|><-riiii'-ntN in : , form which, though very 

 iiii.-i.-iin_'. is now xo familiar as to need no ijuutiii 



That in many instances the ]>oisnn-t<i-th of \.-i, ..-ntw have been extracted, in 



order to allow ill.- |--ifonii. r to play his tricks with them without harm, in very well known, 

 I. in ill-- fart of a. know i,-,!-,-,! and detected imposture does not invalidate the reality which w 

 imitated by pretenders, any more than a forgery disproves the existence of a genuine 

 More will be said on this subject when we come to the different species of cobra. 



The Cerastes usually lives in the driest and hottest parts of Northern Africa, and lies 

 half-buried in the mind until its prey shall come within reach. Like many Serpents, it can 



HOHAT-A FAJL-JMtt 



endure a very prolonged frost without appearing to suffer any inconvenience ; those kept by 

 Bruce lived for two years in a glass jar without partaking of food, and seemed perfectly brisk 

 and lively, casting their skins as usual, and not even becoming torpid daring the winter. 



The color of the Cerastes is pale brownish white, covered irregularly with brown spots. 

 Ite length is about two feet. 



PASSING to another genus of venomous Snakes, we come to a rather pretty little s.-r|-nt . 

 an inhabitant of India, and called by the natives HORATTA PAH (Echit carindta). It is said 

 to be very dangerous in spite of its small dimensions, and to require a double dose of Serpent 

 in-- 1 icine hi order to counteract the effects of ite poison. Its color is grayish brown, darkening 

 into rather deep brown on the head, and variegated with angular white streaks on the body, 

 and huge oblong spots on the head, edged with a deeper hue. Its length la about fifteen 

 or sixteen inches. 



TIIK common ASP, or CHKRS^EA ( Vkprra atpU) is nearly allied to the preceding species. 

 This Snake is common in many parts of Europe, and in plentiful hi Sweden and the 



