594 



The Living Animals of the World 



and are tipped with enamel, thus constituting supplementary throat-teeth. Normally this snake 

 subsists on the eggs of the smaller birds, but when short of this supply has been known to 

 leave the trees and rob hen-roosts, being able, notwithstanding its comparatively small size, to- 

 dilate its mouth and throat for the reception of a hen's egg. The egg is split longitudinally 

 by the action of the throat-teeth, the contents swallowed, and the shell ejected. 



The second or " back-fanged " group includes many exceedingly poisonous species. Among 

 these may be mentioned the INDIAN WHIP-SNAKES and their allies, comprising many tree- 

 frequenting species, closely resembling in habits and colours the harmless solid-toothed tree- 

 snakes of the preceding section. 



It is among the third or " front-fanged " group, however, that the most venomous species 

 occur. To this section belongs the death-dealing COBRA, the yet more formidable HAMADRYAD^ 

 the INDIAN CRAITS, the EGYPTIAN ASP, and the AUSTRALIAN BLACK SNAKES and DEATH-ADDERS. 

 The COBRA-DE-CAPELLO, HOODED, or SPECTACLED SNAKE, as it is variously known, is perhaps the 

 most notoriously familiar example of its section, being responsible for the greater moiety of 

 the many thousands of fatalities that annually occur among the natives of India from the 

 bites of venomous serpents. The craits, which resemble the cobras, but do not possess an 

 erectile hood, are accredited a second position in death-dealing. The peculiar feature of the 

 erectile hood that characterises the cobras is due to the circumstance that a certain number 



of the ribs in this region are 

 independently movable, and 

 can be elevated and depressed 

 at will, the skin-fold that 

 overlies them being loose and 

 elastic. The back of the hood 

 in the ordinary Indian cobra 

 is usually ornamented with 

 two eye-like spots, connected 

 with a loop-like band, which 

 communicate to the complete 

 pattern the fancied resemblance 

 to a pair of spectacles, whence 

 it has derived its appellation- 

 of Spectacled Snake. Indi- 

 viduals vary, however, very 



considerably in this matter of colour-markings : in some instances a single eye-like spot is 

 alone developed, while in others it may be entirely absent. The COMMON COBRA grows to a 

 length of 6 or 7 feet, dimensions greatly exceeded by the GIANT COBRA, or HAMADRYAD, a 

 fortunately rarer form more exclusively confined to jungle and forest districts. This species- 

 may attain to a length of 13 feet or more, and on account of its deadly bite and fiercely 

 aggressive disposition is much feared by the natives of the countries it inhabits, which include 

 not only India, but Burma, Siam, and the Malay region. This giant cobra preys almost 

 exclusively on smaller snakes, frequently including the common cobra. 



A third species of cobra, known as the HAJE, or SPITTING-SNAKE, inhabits Africa, from- 

 Egypt as far south as Natal. It is perhaps the fiercest member of the group, turning 

 readily upon its pursuers, or even commencing the attack. It also possesses the somewhat 

 remarkable and disconcerting habit of ejecting poison from its mouth to a distance of several 1 

 feet, usually aiming with considerable accuracy at the eyes of its assailant. Although 

 unattended by permanently serious effects, the pain caused by the virus striking the eyes is 

 for the time being excruciatingly painful, placing the recipient of the unwelcome discharge 

 entirely hors de combat. The first record of the poison-spitting propensities of this snake r 

 made by Mr. Gordon Gumming, was received with considerable incredulity, but the statement 

 has been confirmed. A relative of the writer's, stationed in Natal, was recently the victim of 



Photo ly II. G. F. Spiu 



[Etwlboai 



ENGLISH VIPER. 

 The only British venomous reptile. 



