NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



189 



HEAD OF CORAL SNAKE. 

 The fang formation of this Xerth American serpent demonstrates its relationsliip to the Cobras. 



thus producing several wounds from each. The duration of the 

 biting movements may be from one to several seconds, depend- 

 ing upon the state of the reptile's irritability. A man wearing 

 ordinary summer underclothing and a thin suit without, might 

 consider his limbs protected from a Cobra's fangs, as the latter 

 would be too short to penetrate the several thicknesses of thin 

 cloth, unless the garments fitted very tightly, and the snake 

 secured a most favorable hold. 



It has been observed that a Cobra is unable to kill an angora 

 guinea pig except when the serpent grasps the animal by a limb 

 or by the nose. When seized l)y the body, the poison is expended 

 in the fur of the animal, the fangs being too short to reach the 

 flesh. Bitten animals die quickly from what appears to be a 

 x-apid paralysis, during which there are but slight struggles, and 

 they appear to suffer but little pain. 



