1S8 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



wartl. and with such force that thc\- generally slide forward l)o(Hly, 

 with the movement of the darting- anterior portion. A few suc- 

 cessive strikes thus bring them nearer the object of their anger, 

 when they rear still higher, striking with a sharp hiss, which can 

 be heard seventy-five feet or more. When near the object of 

 their anger, they evince a bold habit of suddenly dropping from 

 the upright position, darting forward, then flinging the body into 

 the upright position again. This trait brings the serpent uncom- 

 fortably near the observer. 



It is an action devoid of fear, and is common to all the Cobras 

 when in a state of perfect health and vigor. It is most frequently 

 enacted by the King Cobra, a bold and seemingly fearless reptile, 

 that will obey no threat, and is, on the whole, the most dangerous 

 in disposition and fang-power of all poisonous snakes. It is con- 

 cerning this snake that most of the stories relating to actual 

 aggressiveness toward man have emanated. 



It is rather fortunate for interested visitors in the Reptile House 

 that these snakes retain their wild nature, as the spreading of the 

 hood of the s])ectacled Cobras, with the attendant display of the 

 weird and vivid markings upon the same, constitute a sight that 

 is long remembered, and often recalls tales of India. The deadly 

 ]Mt-vipers — the b\M--de-Lance, the P.ushmaster, and their thick- 

 bodied Old-World allies '^ of the warm sands of desert Africa — 

 although much reputed for ferocity, after they have been a few 

 months in captivity, become tame and show few signs of bad 

 temper, even when closely inspected. 



In biting, the Col)ras exhiljit a different series of movements 

 from those displayed by the viperine snakes, with their long, 

 erectile fangs. When striking, the latter throw open the jaws to 

 a great angle, and the fangs literally stab the object aimed at. 

 At the instant of penetration there is a biting movement, to make 

 the poison-conducting teeth penetrate as deeply as possible. The 

 two processes are almost simultaneous, and to the eye the effect 

 is simplv a lightning-like dart and return to the original positit)n 

 of defence, with no ])ause between the two motions. Sometimes, 

 however, the Rattlesnake holds fast to its victim for a si)ace of 

 one or two seconds. 



With the Cobras, such movements would be productive of but 

 little effect, owing to the shortness of the fangs. If the Cobra 

 reaches the offending object, it gra.s])s it tenaciously, and with 

 the peculiar chewing motion of the jaws characteristic of snakes, 

 advances the fangs several times, stabl)ing deeply with them, and 



*Thc lalUr of the Sulifatiiily Viprri>iac. 



