CLASS REPTILIA: ORDER OPHiDIA. 



177 



into a kind of hood, and its dilation is a sign of anger, as 

 strikingly as the rattle in Crotalus. The hood is marked by 

 a figure not unlike a pair of spectacles. The bite is greatly 

 dreaded, as the poison is very subtle. In India, the Cobra 

 is reverenced, and when one takes up its abode in a house, 

 the Hindoo will induce it to enter an earthen jar, and then 

 carefully carry it off to a distance and release it.* 



Colubridae. The Black-snake, Striped-snake, Water- 

 snake, etc., are included in this family. They are all perfectly 

 inoffensive. 



Fig. 300. Fig. SOI. 



Boa anaconda. Hooks of Anaconda. 



Boidae. The Boa and Anaconda of South America, and 

 the Python of Africa and the East Indies, are the largest ser- 



* This serpent is also used by snake-charmers, who handle it with impunity and 

 pretend to throw it into a lethargy and bring it out at will. u Drawing the reptile 

 from its cage they will irritate it by presenting a stick. The animal immediately 

 erects the fore part of its body, swells its neck, opens its jaws, extends its forked 

 tongue, and begins to hiss. Then* a sort of battle begins between the serpent and the 

 Aarmer. The latter striking up a monotonous song, opposes his clenched fist to 

 his enemy ; the former fixes its glittering eyes upon the fist and follows all its move- 

 ments, balancing its head and thus keeping up a kind of dance." 



