RHUMB A. 207 



the window one day by a great clamour 

 among the landrails, and saw that about 

 a dozen of them were in close attend- 

 ance upon a large cobra, which was 

 moving slowly straight towards the 

 eggs (a delicacy of which snakes are 

 fond). The rails tried all they knew to 

 stop the cobra or draw him away from 

 the nest. They swooped one after 

 another* at his head, almost striking him 

 with their wings, while three or four of 

 them alighted and danced in front of 

 him with outspread wings like children 

 holding out their skirts in a quadrille. 

 The cobra now and then raised his 

 crested head and made a show of strik- 

 ing at one or another, but not in the 

 least did he deviate from his course. 

 At last as he was nearing the nest, I 



