890 , Mu, A. LOVERTDaE: K ones ON 



ElAPEGHIS NIGER Giintli. 



BIgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. 1896, p. 359. 



A single specimen from an anb bill at Lnmbo; another was 

 killed but l)aclly smashed in the same hill. I also encountered a 

 third specimen in November 1920 just before dusk on the Uasin 

 (aishu Plateau near the Burnt Forest. I lield it down with my 

 cycle pump till 1 had had a good look at it. As 1 had lost my 

 way I had other things to think of than its preservation, and so 

 released it. Lumbo female 20^ inches (488 + 32) with 142 ventral 

 scutes. 



Naia NiGiucoLiiis Reinh. 



Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. 1896, p. 387. 



Twelve specimens of the Black-necked Cobra, known as Kigau 

 in Kikami and Fera in Kiswaliili (not Pili as given in sundry 

 dictionaries, which is the Pnfi" Adder), were met with at Morogoro, 

 Rudewa, Kilosa, Mtali's, Tabora, Mwanza Dist., Fi-ere Town, 

 JSTairobi, and Lumbo. 



The Lumbo specimens a I'e referable to Peters' var. mossamhica, 

 Nairobi ones to forma tijpica. Mtali snake Avasall black with nO' 

 throat markings. Mwanza Dist. example was black above, 

 mottled bliick and white beneath, no red on throat. Tabora 

 specimen had the throat red-banded, being young it Avas plumbeous 

 above. I came upon it aS I was clambering over a kopje, and it 

 came straight for me for the best part of a yard with hood spread, 

 spat at me, then turned into a creA'ice, which was the reason it. 

 approached, "home" being between us. It struck me that the 

 red and black bands on the throat are obviously " Avarning 

 colours." 



It is curious that of a score of specimens collected all have been 

 females hitherto ; one had 180 and another had 181 ventrals, two 

 had 51 and two 53 subcaudals. 



During September 1920 an Indian juggler who had a captive 

 cobra brought n)e ten eggs measuring 35 X 17 mm. recently laid 

 by it. The eggs are usually deposited in old termite hills. 



Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibia are alike included in 

 the dietai'}'' of this species, and no doul)t this fact explains its 

 wide distribution and numbers. On arriving at Frere Town 

 (17. V. 18)1 was informed by my host that he had been much 

 plagued by a cobra in his fowl-house. Duiing the three pi-evious 

 nights it had killed six pigeons, two pigeons, and one pigeon 

 respectively. At seA^en o'clock that evening I received a message 

 that the cobra was noAvin the fowl-house coiled among the rafters 

 about tAvelve feet from the ground. On arrival I saAv a capture 

 was impossible and sent back for a '410 gun, from Avhich I delivered 

 a charge of No. 10 shot. The concussion in the small iron 

 building made such a dust that Ave had to retire : a flop, and down 

 fell the cobra at our feet still Avrithing and striking this Avay and 



