584 AMPHIB1ALA. 



SECTION XI. 



Spectacle or Hooded Snake. 

 Coluber Naja. Linn. 



The coluber naja, or cobra de capello, is a native of India, 

 where it appears to be one of the most common, as well as most 

 noxious, of the serpent tribe ; very frequently proving fatal, in 

 the space of a few minutes, to those who unfortunately experience 

 its bite. Its remarkable form and colours are such as to distin- 

 guish it with great ease from almost every other snake. Its gene- 

 ral length seems to be three or four feet, and the diameter of the 

 body about an inch and a quarter : the head is rather small 

 than large, and is covered on the fore part with large smooth 

 scales ; resembling, in this respect, the majority of innoxious ser- 

 pents : the back part, sides, and neck, with smaller ovate scales ; 

 and the remainder of the animal, on the upper parts, with small, 

 distinct, oblong. oval scales, not ill resembling the general form of 

 a grain of rice. At a small distance beyond the head is a lateral 

 swelling or dilatation of the skin, which is continued to the distance 

 of about four inches downwards, where the outline gradually sinks 

 into the cylindric form of the rest of the body. This part is ex- 

 tensile, at the pleasure of the animal; and when viewed from 

 above, while in its most extended state, is of a somewhat cordated 

 form, or wider at the upper than the lower part : it is marked 

 above by a very large and conspicuous patch or spot, greatly re- 

 sembling the figure of a pair of spectacles ; the mark itself being 

 white with black edges, and the middle of each of the rounded 

 parts black. This mark is more or less distinct in different indi- 

 viduals, and also varies occasionally in size and form, and in some 

 is even altogether wanting. The usual colour of the animal is a 

 pale ferruginous brown above ; the under parts being of a blueish 

 white, sometimes slightly tinged with pale brown, or yellow : the 

 tail, which is of moderate length, tapers gradually, and terminates 

 in a slender, sharp-pointed extremity. 



This formidable reptile has obtained its Portuguese title of 

 Cobra de Capello, or hooded snake, from the appearance which 

 it presents when viewed in front in an irritated state, or when 

 preparing to bite ; at which time it bends the head rather down, 

 wards, and seems hooded, as it were, in some degree, by the ex- 



