THE HOODED SNAKE. IOl 



anecdote is related by Bomare. He says that one 

 of these had been so completely tamed by a lady 

 as to come to her whenever she called it, to follow 

 her in her walks, writhe itself round her arms, and 

 sleep in her bosom. One day, when she went in a 

 boat to some distance up a large river, she threw 

 the snake into the water, imagining that its fidelity 

 would lead it to follow her, and that, by swimming, 

 it would readily overtake the boat. The poor ani- 

 mal exerted all its efforts ; but the current proving 

 at that juncture unusually strong, owing to the 

 advance of the tide, in spite of all its struggling to 

 effect its purpose, it was borne down the stream, 

 and was unfortunately drowned*, 



THE HOODED SNAKE f. 



This dreadful serpent is very common in many 

 parts of India. Its general length is three or tour 

 feet, and thickness somewhat more than an inch. 

 The head is rather small ; and a little beyond it 

 there is a lateral dilation of the skin, which is con- 

 tinued to the length of about four inches down- 

 wards, where it gradually sinks into the cylin- 

 drical form of the rest of the body. 



This part is capable of being extended by the 

 animal at pleasure. It is usually marked on the 



* Dictionnaire Raisonne Unlvertel cTHistoire Naturelle. 

 t Synonyms. Coluber Naja. Linn. — Cobra di Capello. Far, 

 -Spectacle Snake. Shams. Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. 3. tab. 107, 



H 3 



