72 Catalogue of Reptiles, 



e ] ia |f # Bengal probably. Spectacles distinct. 



f. ditto two specimens, ditto. 



g. ditto. 



h. ditto 3 specimens, from Pegu probably. 



A large central and two small lateral dark spots in a pale 

 oval area. 

 i. ditto two specimens (bleached), from Pegu probably. 



No spectacles, oval mark only with dark centre. 

 j. ditto swallowing a Bufo melanostictus. 

 h. ditto, 3 specimens from Pegu probably. 

 L ditt0 Mergui. Major Berdmore. 



m . d i t to ditto. W. Theobald, Esq., Jr 



n. young. Bengal (?) 



Spectacles displayed, 

 o. ditto ditto, 

 p. ditto, 4 specimens, all from Pegu probably. 



q. ditto two-headed monster Nawab of Dacca. 



r. head of cobra distended ; no spectacles or other mark. 



Most of the specimens in the collection belong to the variety which 

 occurs on the east side of the Bay, without spectacles but with merely 

 a pale black central oval mark on the neck. The ordinary spectacled 

 varietv I have never ousted in Pegu or Tenassenm. 



The commonest color of the cobra is a uniform brown rather ^dark 

 but I have seen many living ones in Bengal, almost pale yellow or 

 yellowish stone color. From this pale tint, the color passes through the 

 £ur varieties to uniform black The pale varieties are gkd ^W 

 « Gorhmon " and the black is known by the name of Kaoutkia, witii 

 the epithet black often affixed. It is the largest and most dreaded 

 varietv but I don't think its color is the result of age, as I have seen 

 folly Idult cobras of a pale yellowish color, though rarely. The Pegu 

 variety is dark, with the oval mark very constant, and never exhibits 



^^^^^^SS^gdl^. ^ has never been observed by 

 Mi Hod-son in the valley of Nepal." This is very easily accounted 

 for' since few could venture to kill a cobra, even for scientific ends, m 

 the ri-oronsly Hindu Kote of Nepal. In British India, decent Hindoos 

 will n & ot kill I cobra ; and if one has taken up his abode m a house he 

 Z either permitted to remain, or else carefully inveigled into an earthen 

 pot which is then closed and carried off for miles, before it is opened 

 Lfd the sacred reptile within respectfully allowed to regain his ktorig 

 I have myself witnessed this deferential deportation oi the cobra m 

 Bengal- but of course none but the orthodox Hindoo is so careful to 

 abs4n from injuring the animal, and their reverential feeling is now 

 perhaps rXer tie exception than the rule, though probably as strong 

 as ever in Nepal. 



