SNAKE-CHAEMIXG. 75 



from a whistle or small flute. It is said that these m_ystcrious 

 jugglers are able, by some sympathetic action they possess, 

 to plunge these dangerous enemies into a sort of lethargy and 

 death-like rigiditj', and to bring them at will out of this mo- 

 mentary torpor. It is certain, at any rate, that they handle 

 these animals, whose bite is extremely dangerous, with consider- 

 able impunity, and without having in any way neutralized or 

 intercepted the venom. It is sujjposed by some that these charmers 

 take the precaution of exhausting the ven(jm of the Cobra every 

 day by forcing it to bite something several times before exhibiting 

 it. It is also certain that thej^ more frequently draw the poison 

 fangs — a wound from which can kill in the course of two or three 

 hours. 



The Asp [Naja haje) has a less dilatable neck ; it is of a greenish 

 colour, and marked with brownish spots. It is smaller tlian the 

 former ; is found in the west and south of Ai'rica ; and is espe- 

 cially common in Egypt. It was said to have been this KejJtile 

 which caused the death of Cleopatra. 



[The genus Ilamadrijas of Cantor [Ophlopkagus of Giinther) 



differs very little from the true Cobras, but has a less developed 



hood, and a single small tooth placed at some distance behind the 



fang. The only species, II. daps, attains to thirteen feet in length, 



and is proportionately Ibrmidable, being much less timid and 



retiring in its habits than the Cobras of the genus JShyn. it 



preys habitually on other (Snakes, and seems to be more plentiful 



eastward of the Bay of Bengal than it is in India. In Euruiah it 



is styled the Gnan, and i\Ir. Theobald tells us that its venom is 



fatal in a few minutes. " One of these (Snakes," he adds, " was 



brought in alive, and a snake-charmer came up to display his 



command over the animal. At first (as I am. told) the (Snake 



seemed cowed by the authoritative ' Ilah ' of the man ; but sud- 



denlj^, through some carelessness on his part, the Snake struck him 



on the wrist. The poor fellow at once ran oft' home to get an 



antidote, but fell down before reaching his own door, and died in 



a few minutes. When at Toughu," continues Mr. Theobald, " I 



heard a case of an Elephant beiug_ killed by one of these (Snakes, 



which I have no reason for doubting. The Elephant was a hne 



powerful male, and \\'as pulling down with his trunk some creepers 



