THE COBRA Dl CAPBLLO. 141 



feet, ami ivtuiniiii; this attitude, a.s if t.. take a sure aim. uatrhim; the movement* <if tin- prey, 

 dart* upon it in tin- -a me maim- r a> tin- /,.//./ tri/im/iun* (t. . the cobra) does. When the 

 \ irtim is killed by jjobon, aiul \>\ degrees swallowed, the act U followed by a lethargic state, 

 lasting for about twel\.- li-.ura. 



I'll.- Hamadryas is fond >f water, will .Irink. and likes to pan the tongue rapidly through 

 water as if to moiMen that memU-r. It is a fierce and dangerous ivptil<-. n<>t only re-istinc 

 when attarked. l.iit even pursuing the foe should he retreat, a proceeding contrary to the 

 general rule among StTj-entv The ]x>ison of this creature is virulent and active, a fowl dying 

 in f.urte.Mi minutes, and a dog in less than three hours, after receiving the fatal Kite, although 

 the experiment* \\.-n- maile in the r..l.l s<-:i>Min. when the pofoton of venomous Snakes is always 

 r.itln-i inactive. The poisonous secretion reddens litmus JIHJHT very slightly, ami, us is the 

 case with most Ser] m poisons, loses its efficacy by being exposed to the air. The native name 

 of the Hamad ryas is Sunkr (.'hour. 



BANUKU BL'NUAKUI.- 



The color of this Snake is generally of an olive hue, auburn and pale below, but there is s 

 variety marked with cross-bonds of white. It is a large species, varying from four to six feet 

 in length, while some specimens are said to reach ten feet. 



WE now come to some of the most deadly of the Serpent tribe, the first of which is the 

 well-known COBRA DI CAPELLO, or HOODED COBRA of India. 



This celebrated Serpent has long been famous, not only for the deadly power of its venom, 

 hut for the singular performances in which it takes part. The Cobra inhabits many parts of 

 Asia, and in almost every place where it is found, certain daring men take upon themselves 

 the profession of Serpent-charmers, and handle these fearful reptiles with impunity, cause 

 them to move in time to certain musical sounds, and assert that they bear a life charmed 

 against the bite of these reptilian playmates. One of these men will take a Cobra in his bare 

 hands, toss it about with perfect nonchalance, allow it to twine about his naked breast, tie it 

 round his neck, and treat it with as little ceremony as if it were an earth-worm. He will then 



