84 NAJA VULGARIS. 



and marked with a singular spectacle-formed spot, of black and 

 white. This spectacle-like mark, or hood, is more or less distinct 

 in different individuals, varying in size and form, and in some 

 individuals is altogether wanting. It is partly formed by the colour 

 of the intersticial skin, discovered in consequence of the separation 

 of the scales ; but the tint of the scales also contributes to produce 

 this figure, especially in regard to the dark colours. The general 

 colour of the animal is a pale ferruginous brown, but in certain 

 positions the glistening scales reflect a faint blueish ash colour. 

 The tail is round, measuring about nine inches in length, covered 

 with suborbicular scales, and tapers gradually to a sharp horny 

 point. The abdominal scuta are very long ; the subcaudal squamae 

 hexagonal ; both are of a dull blueish white, sometimes slightly 

 tinged with pale brown or yellow. — Fig. 1 . represents the head of 

 the Naja vulgaris, exhibiting the poison fangs ; 2. the palatal 

 row of teeth ; 3. a poison fang a little magnified, showing the 

 lateral fold or tube for the conveyance of the poison; and fig. 4. 

 a section of the same tooth near the base. 



The title of Cobra di Capello, or Hooded-snake, has been given 

 to this formidable reptile by the Portuguese from the appearance 

 which it presents when viewed in front in an irritated state, or 

 when preparing to bite, at which time it bends the head rather 

 downwards, and seems hooded, as it were, in some degree, by 

 the expanded skin of the neck. It is called by the Hindoos, 

 nagvo, and by the English, Cobra di Capello, or spectacled-snake. 



The Hooded-snake varies considerably in size and colour. 

 Laurenti enumerates four varieties : Naja lutescens, the com- 

 mon kind ; j3 Naja fasciata fasciis per to turn corpus ex 

 fusco rubris, having fuscous red bands over the whole body ; 

 Y Naja siamensis excinereo grisea, summo dorso ruj'o. Cine- 

 reous with the back rufous ; and 8 Naja maculata ex luteo 

 rufa, squamis singulis alba macula notatis ; of a tawny- 

 yellow colour, and having each scale marked with a single white 

 spot. But it appears from the work of Dr. Russel on Indian 

 Serpents, that there are many other varieties of this extraordinary 

 snake. He describes no less than ten different kinds that are 

 found in India alone, and seems to intimate that these are not the 



