NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 191 



Cobra is repeatedly bitten, but it regards with stoical indifference 

 the superficial wounds inflicted by the teeth of its prey, and con- 

 tinues working- the body of the snake along in its jaws with the 

 idea of reaching the head, which portion is first swallowed. 

 Sometimes the quarry is seized near the head, and in such cases 

 it is soon disappearing down the Cobra's throat. Frequently, 

 however, the Cobra has some trouble in working its jaws toward 

 the victim's head. At such times the larger reptile pauses often, 

 and awaits an opportunity of seizing the other by the neck. If 

 the attacked snake makes a movement to bite the Cobra on head 

 or neck, there is a counter movement of great rapiditv. The 

 body is released and the approaching head is seized with aston- 

 ishing quickness, after which performance the engulfing process 

 begins without more ado. 



The fine representative of this species in the Reptile House has 

 no aversion to taking snakes that have been freshlv killed. Its 

 good-nature permits economy to be practiced, for in times of 

 scarcity each snake offered is first killed and stuffed to its full 

 capacity with frogs or rats, and thus it is made to equal in bulk 

 and nourishment a half-dozen snakes of equal length not treated 

 in this manner. It is alleged that the King Cobra feeds upon liz- 

 ards, an assertion rendered rather doubtful by the action of this 

 specimen. Its cage is shared bv half a dozen species of small 

 lizards, which for several years have interested visitors by their 

 lively antics, running fearlessly up and down the walls, and even 

 along the snake's bodv, without molestation or any hostile notice 

 on the ophidian's part. 



After feeding, all Cobras delight to bathe. Their positions in 

 the water often alarm uninitiated visitors, for they frequently 

 float on their sides or their backs in a manner that suggests an 

 animal for some time drowned and inflated with the gases of 

 decomposition. 



Relationship. — In habits and structural relationships, several 

 genera of snakes closely approach the serpents of the Genus Naja. 

 These are the species of the African genus Scpccioii. the Indian 

 and Malayan genus Bimganis, and the Australian genera Pscii- 

 dechis and Hoplocephahis. All of these snakes display a vivacity 

 and intelligence strongly appealing to the Cobras. Hoploccphahts 

 and Sepedon are very strongly suggestive of the actions of the 

 various species of Xaja. 



