ISLAND OF CEYLON. j^y 



bite, on its receiving a wound from that dreadful ferpent. The 

 plants it feeks relief from, are the Opbiorrhiza Mungos^ Strych- 

 nos Colubrina, and Opbioxylon ferpentinum. The laft is figured 

 in Burman. Zeylan. 141. tab. 64, and in Rumpb. Amboin, vi. 25, 

 tab. xvi. 



The Naja is found all over the hotter parts of India^ and is Naja, 

 diftinguiflied by a mark on the back of the head, of the form of 

 a pair of fpedlacles, alfo by the power of dilating the Ikin of the 

 head into the form of a hood, from which it has gotten the 

 name of the Cobra de Capello^ or hooded fnake. They grow from 

 four to eight or nine feet in length, and are juftly dreaded by the 

 Indians. Their bite is generally mortal, yet there is a remedy 

 (if timely applied) that has its efficacy. The mortal effect fome- 

 times takes place in a quarter of an hour, fometimes in two 

 or three hours. In its fatal facculus it feems to contain the 

 poifons of the Seps^ one of Lucari'^ deadly lift *. An univerfal 

 gangrene takes place, and the flefli falls from the bones ; con- 

 vulfions fometimes bring on death, according to the degree of 

 viruSy on which the fymptoms depend. 



This fpecies never diftends its hood but when it is agitated 

 by fome paffion, fuch as fear, or rage, it then quits its creeping- 

 attitude, raifes the fore part of the body a third of its whole 

 length, fpreads its hood, and moves its head around, darting a 

 fiery glare to every part, often remaining in all other refpedts 

 immoveable ; or its motion becomes flow, fteady, and cautious, 



* Manant humeri fortefque lacerti : 

 Colla caputque fluunt : calido non ocius auftro 

 Nix refoluta cadet, nee folem cera fequetur. 



Lib, ix. Lin. 780. 



fo 



