410 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, Xlt, 



seven feet long and one foot in circumference, was oaiight in Shwagyen, 

 and after being secnred to a bamboo, was brougbt to Major Eerdmore. 

 He sent for a famous Burmese serpent-charmer who met the brute on 

 the verandah in the coufident expectation of subduing it by a ' few brays," 

 a bold front and a shake of the finger. At first the serpent appeared 

 to cower beneath his glance, but when he approached and put forth his 

 hand, it sprang on his wrist and bit him. The man felt the poison up to 

 his shoulder in an instant, and ran off immediately to his houscj which 

 was near, for an antidote ; but he fell exhausted on the threshold, 

 and expired in less than half an hour after he was bitten. The Karens 

 Bay they are sometimes three fathoms long, but from ten to twelve feet 

 is the most common length of adults. A Karen at my side says that 

 on three several instances he has seen a Hamadryad devouring other 

 snakes, so one of its specific names, ' Ophiophagus' (snake-eater), is 

 most appropriate. An intelligent Burman told me that a friend of his 

 one day stumbled upon a nest of these serpents, and immediately re- 

 treated ; but the old female gave chase. The man fled with all speed over 

 hill and dale, till, reaching a small river, he plunged in, hoping he had 

 then escaped his fiery enemy ; but, lo ! on reaching the opposite bank, 

 up reared the furious Hamadryad, its eyes glistening with rage, ready 

 to bury its fangs in his trembling body. In utter despair he bethought 

 himself of his turban, and in a moment dashed it upon the serpent 

 which darted upon it like lightning, and for some moments wreaked 

 its vengeance in furious bites, after which it returned to its former 

 haunts." Mr. Theobald in the work referred to writes : — " I was one even- 

 ing attracted by a noise of men and dogs near my tent, and found a 

 large crowd round a bush, in which some creature v/as at bay. On 

 coming up I found it to be a magnificent ' Gnan * (Hamadryad) 

 twelve feet long, which was making furious charges at the dogs, but 

 was protected by the bushes among which it kept from the men who^ 

 moreover, were very much disinclined to come very close. Taking a 

 stick from a boy, I directed all present to go the other side of the bush 

 and keep quiet, whilst I station&d myself a few yards in the open. Aa 

 I anticipated, in a minute or so the * Gnan ' thinking the coast clear 

 came straight out on my side, with the idea of escaping ; and, when 

 well clear of the bushes, I made one step forward, and delivered a smart 

 blow on the neck, and before he could recover himself, I was upon him 

 and had him firmly by the nape." Yule in hia *' Embassy to Avaj ^ 



