Natural-History Notes from Bengal. 1'211 



fairly on the wing fly at a great rate. The feet are large and webhed, 

 like other divers and ducks ; the body is of a longish shape ; the skin 

 of the neck is very beautifully marked, and it will stretch to a great 

 extent. I intend sending you the skin of the male bird this cold 

 weather, and you will then be able to determine its species correctly. 

 Now for a few words on the cobra, " the most deadly of Indian snakes." 

 I have been lucky enough to come across and kill fifteen of them since 

 my arrival here. The only thing T have noticed in them is that they 

 are far more cunning than any other snake, and when holly chased 

 will not hesitate to stand up and show fight, making a kind of blowing 

 noise all the while : the natives say that if the cobra does bite when 

 in this state of passion death is certain within an hour. One did 

 a most curious thing to me ; I was in full chase, and about twice his 

 length behind him, when he suddenly raised himself backwards, and 

 by so doing as near as possible laid hold of my leg, but on finding he 

 had missed his aim he slunk off at a rapid pace, when I settled his 

 hash with two cracks of a bamboo. I once caught a very large cobra 

 in a curious way. This worthy used to live in a very thick wall 

 in the hen house at Katchekatta, and nearly every night destroyed 

 from three to five birds : all endeavours to catch him having heretofore, 

 failed, I hit upon the following plan. Before his hole I drove a large 

 nail into the ground, and to this I fastened a bit of strong whipcord, 

 about two feet long ; at the end of the cord I lashed a fine sharp 

 eel-hook, and upon this I tied with a thread a nice tempting lively 

 yellow frog; then, leaving the yellow gentleman for the night in a very 

 jumping humour, 1 retired, and early the next morning sure enough, 

 as I expected, the frog and half the twine had disappeared down the 

 hole. I now put a stone against the hole, unfastened the end of the 

 string that was tied to the nail, and this I again fastened to a stout 

 stick; then, removing the stone, with one jerk I brought the writhing 

 cobra to light, who, never expecting this kind of treatment, growled 

 like the very devil. I skinned him, as he was the largest I ever saw, 

 being five feet long. 



" Getting birds' eggs in this country is very diflScult work, the natives 

 being such fools that they never know how to find a nest, and the 

 only way I have got the few now in my possession was from watching 

 the birds about a tree and then sending a man up to bring down the 

 eggs. 



" The birds that have most taken my fancy are the four kinds of game 

 about here, but which, I am sorry to say are fast disappearing before 

 the steps of civilization, and very soon not a partridge will be found 



