SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 3 



in their colour. I have had in my possession 

 specimens of all kinds — from a dead-black to a 

 yellowish-white, and even salmon colour. Nearly 

 all cobras have a single or double ocellus upon 

 the hood ; the former, marked, are termed by 

 the natives Keuntiah and the latter Gokurah. 

 The Ookurah is the snake usually selected by 

 snake-charmers for their tamashas, because its 

 movements are slower and more under control 

 than those of the Kewntiah. The latter is fond 

 of water, and its habitat is the jungle or paddy- 

 fields ; the former is not particularly partial to 

 water and it is to be found usually amongst old 

 buildings or heaps of rubbish. I have never seen 

 a .cobra exceeding six feet in length, though I 

 have had hundreds in my possession. The Ophio- opUopiiagus. 

 phagus, Hamadryad, or Svlfnlcerchor of the natives, 

 is the largest of all Indian venomous snakes, is 

 hooded like the cobra, and lives in damp jungly 

 places. This snake also is a favorite with the 

 snake-charmers, because of the facility with 

 which it is handled, and its forniidable appearance. 

 It grows the length of fourteen feet or more, is 

 very powerful, and is said to be aggressive. It 

 is certainly more aggressive than any other snake 

 with which I am acquainted, but Dr. Wall and 



