204 GRIFFIN. 



'I'lu' ([uc'stion is often asked, "are there any eobi'as in (lie lMiili|i|>ines?'' 

 We have three species of eoljras in our collection. First, tlie hooded cobra, 

 the cobra de capella, Naja naja, one fully grown female specimen of which 

 has been caught within 4 miles of Manila. There seems to be good reason 

 to believe that cobras are much more plentiful in the Islands than is 

 supposed, and that many of the deaths from snake bite are to be laid 

 to them.- A nearly black variety, which may prove to be a distinct 

 species, is found in Palawan. Secondly, a large specimen of tlie king 

 cobra, Naja hungarus. measuring moi'e than 8 feet in length was caught 

 in Benguet, and is now in the collection of t;he Bui'eau of Science. In 

 spite of its size and venom, this species probal)ly lives to our benefit 

 ratlier than harm, for it is said to feed on nothing but other snakes. 

 Finally, in Samar, Leyte, and in Mindanao, is a species of cobra found 

 only in the Philippines, Naja mmarcnds. If, as I believe, certain reports 

 of a snake in Samar, which have come to me lately, refer to this species, 

 it is as active a pest as' its relative in India. 



Probably the most vicious appearing snake in the Philippines is the 

 bamboo snake, Ti^imcresuvus graminnif^. This snake is found in clumps 

 of bamboo, or hanging from the limbs of trees by its short prehensile tail. 

 The general color of the body is bright green, while the tail is red. It 

 is armed with fangs four times as large in proportion to its size as those 

 of the cobra, though it is doubtful if its venom is as deadly as that of 

 the cobra. This snake is fairly common, and widely distributed. In 

 the southern Islands there are foimd at least three more species of the 

 same genus. In China this species is considered very dangerous on 

 account of its habit of hanging suspended by its tail from branches, and 

 striking when disturbed. 



The other poisonous land snakes of the Islands are mostly of small 

 size. A few species are greatly feared, but most of them are too small 

 to do much damage to human beings. The snakes of the genus Doliophis 

 are interesting because of the enormous development of the poison glands, 

 which occupy a third the length of the body, and which, by their extension 

 backward, have crowded the heart some distance posterior to its usual 

 position. There is on the part of the Filipinos a great deal of fear and 

 superstition regarding another snake, the tiny Typhlops braminus, which, 

 when full grown, is no larger than a small earthworm. It is found 

 very often in termite nests, without regard to whether or not these are 

 occupied. The most usual native superstition regarding this snake is 

 that if it bites a carabao the latter will die immediately. Inasmuch as the 

 mouth of the TypliJops M'ould scarcely admit a single hair of the carabao, 

 and microscopic teeth are borne only by the maxilla, one is at a loss to 

 find the basis for this superstitious belief. 



