476 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Mr. Phipson reported that the young cobras that hatched out 

 some years ago in our Society's rooms killed a small Malay 

 python [Python reticulatus) , which was placed in their cage, a 

 few days after they were born. They attacked it at once, 

 biting it viciously across the back. 



(&) Early Life: Phipson, referring to the hatchlings that were 

 187 mm. (7i inches) when they emerged from the egg, says 

 they grew an inch and a half in about two months, but, as 

 these specimens appeared to have died of inanition having 

 refused all food, one may be certain this underestimates the 

 normal growth. Similarly, I have had specimens submitted 

 to me from Parel which did not develop as cobras usually do 

 in a state of nature. Four of these born on July 18, 1910, 

 were consigned to spirit on November 2. I measured these, 

 and found them 290, 305, 305, and 320 mm. (11^, 12, 12, 

 and 12f inches). A fifth specimen born on July 20, 1910, died 

 on December 7, and I find it is 12| inches long. 



(c) Maturity : I have had no information of the length of 

 gravid females. 



[d) Maximum Length : The cobra, when adult, measures 

 usually 1,370 to 1,675 mm. (from 4J to 5| feet). Larger speci- 

 mens are rare, and 6-footers extremely rare. Dr. Nicholson, 

 who for some time distributed the rewards for poisonous 

 snakes on behalf of the Mysore Government, says that out of 

 1,200 specimens that passed through his hands at Bangalore, 

 only tour exceeded 1 .075 mm. (5 feet 6 inches), and the largest 

 of these measured 1,728 mm. (5 feet 8 inches). I have probably 

 examined 600 cobras from various parts of Asia, between 

 Balucliistan and Chitral to South China. I have only once 

 seen a 6-footer, and this was sent to me by Mr. P. W. Mackin- 

 non, and was killed in Dehra Dun. It taped 1,930 mm. (6 feet 

 4 inches). Mr. H. Hampton, writing to me from Mogok, Ruby 

 Mines, Burma, told me he had obtained a specimen of precisely 

 similar length, ^vhich he had sent to the British Museum. He 

 further stated that Mr. Boulenger, in acknowledging the 

 speci men,told him it was the largest received in that Institution , 

 where there are upwards of seventy examples. Mr. Millard 

 has told me of two specimens he has seen, one 1,830 nun. 



