SNAKES OF CEYLON. 467 



roaming about, I suppose, in search of food or drink. In 

 populated areas it is perhaps more frequently encountered at 

 night. Mr. Hampton tells me his captive specimens did not 

 usually show themselves until midday, or the early afternoon, 

 and remained out till about 10 p.m. 



(e) Progression : It moves with wonderful alacrity when 

 it has once decided to quit some possible danger confronting 

 it. Young specimens especially move most expeditiously, 

 and are wonderfully adroit in avoiding capture or 

 despatch. 



(/) Hearing : One of the most interesting matters in con- 

 nection with the cobra affects that ever fruitful subject of 

 discussion ■ ' charming. " It is clear that many very competent 

 authorities disbelieve in the practice. Mr. Phipson says : 

 " It is the constant movement of the musical instrument in 

 front of the snake that keeps it erect and not the noise pro- 

 duced," and this is precisely what many other good observers 

 state. I certainly take this view myself, and came to this 

 conclusion very early in my Indian career. One thing puzzled 

 me at first and aroused my suspicion, viz., why is it that in all 

 the stories one reads of " charming," it is invariably the 

 cobra that withdraws from its snug retreat, whilst other 

 snakes apparently are not susceptible to the captivating (?) 

 sounds of the juggler's pipe ? I know of no anatomical 

 difference in the auditory apparatus of cobras from other 

 snakes. I experimented frequently in Delhi in my verandah 

 with cobras. I cut narrow strips of sticking plaster, suffi- 

 ciently broad to cover the eyes completely. These strips had 

 a double purpose. Not only did they blindfold the subjects 

 of experiment, but being carried right round the head they 

 locked the snake's jaws, and so prevented any chance of my 

 being bitten. This done the snake was released, and in a 

 very short time it relaxed its hood, and assumed a completely 

 recumbent attitude. The verandah in which the first of these 

 experiments was carried out was a crazy wooden structure, 

 and if one moved a chair, or even if a servant walked along 

 the room inside, the snake immediately erected itself as if 

 conscious of danger. On the cement verandah downstairs, 

 it was also noticed that the snakes immediately got up when 



65 6(6)20 



