186 



NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I; }^^^,yr^- 



ri 



HKAI) OF THE KlXll lOBKA. 



The fangs are proportionately much sniaMer lliaii tliose of the Niiicriiu: .--erpent (rattlesnake) shown 



1)V another ilhislralioii. 



was aj)i)rnacliin^", to assume the i^raceful attitude of its kind — 

 liead and neck upraised to the level of the small plate-glass win- 

 dow in the door of its cage — and follmv intently, with turning 

 head, the movements of the keepers in the ])assage behind the 

 cages. 



In serj)ents, such actions are unusual. 'Tlu'v apjieal more to 

 the mental faculties exhibited by mammals. In numerous other 

 instances the writer and his keepers have nested the uiuisual intelli- 

 gence of the Cobras. Their ap|)arent sagacity, together with the 

 possession of fangs, and ])robabl\ the most \irulent poison of 

 all snakes, demands the greatest caution lui the jiart of those 

 who maintain a collection "\ living specimens. 



Disposition of Cobras. — Couipaicd with ntluT >rrpents. both 



