84 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



bristling, watching for an opportunity to make a 

 rush and seize the snake. This skirmishing went 

 on for some time ; the snake at last made a dart, 

 but before it could recover itself was seized by the 

 back of the neck by the mangoose, which im- 

 mediately proceeded to gnaw out the fangs 

 on both sides. It then gave the snake two or 

 three shakes and let it go, again returning to the 

 attack when the snake lifted its head, and so on 

 until the snake was nearly killed. As I have 

 before observed, this was witnessed by several 

 gentlemen to whom I afterwards showed the 

 wounds caused by the gnawing out of the fangs. 

 This was witnessed twice afterwards. 



Russell is in error in stating that all cobra- 

 poison is exactly alike in appearance. The 

 spectacled cobra which lives in dry places has 

 viscid amber-coloured poison, while the keuntiah 

 cobra, which is generally found in paddy fields, 

 has a light-colored watery poison. 

 Mr. Boag ^^ t^® ys^'i" 1799, we find Mr. Boag not only 



FonSa's advocating the Abbd Fontana's treatment of 

 snake-poisoning by the administration of nitrate 

 of silver and nitric acid baths, but attempting to 

 establish a theory whereby to account for the 

 efficacy of the treatment. After telling us it 



treatment. 



