208 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



never again of value owing to the fact that it had 

 lost its power to yield milk. 



Many people are under the impression that most 

 snakes are poisonous, but this belief is not established 

 by fact ; and in reference to this point Mr. E. G. 

 Boidenger writes : — ' Although the idea is prevalent 

 that the majority of snakes are venomous, the 

 reverse is in reaUty the case, for of the couple of 

 thousand or so different species, barely one -third 

 are endowed with poison glands, and of these the 

 bite of not more than one himdred and fifty would 

 produce death in man.' Unfortunately, there is no 

 sure means of distinguishing at a glance a venom- 

 ous from a non-venomous snake unless an inspection 

 be made of its teeth ; and as few of us would care to 

 make such an examination to satisfy our curiosity 

 regarding that point, it is just as well to keep at a 

 respectful distance from all of them, except those 

 with which we are famiUar and know from experi- 

 ence to be harmless. 



One of the deadliest of snakes is the cobra. There 

 are ten different species to be found in Africa and 

 the warmer parts of Asia, aU of which can readily be 

 recognised by the manner in which they raise their 

 heads and expand the skin-folds of their necks into 

 the form of a hood when annoyed. Probably no 

 snake is responsible for causing more deaths in 

 India than the ' cobra de capello ' (meaning ' hooded 

 snake '), a reptile which is largely nocturnal in 

 habits, and very fond of concealing itself during 

 the daytime amidst stacks of wood, under the shelter 

 of walls, and in old buildings. The typical race is 



