349 
of the Neck of the Cobra de Capello. 
To depress the ribs, and restore the parts to that state in 
which the neck of the animal does not appear disproportionally 
protuberant, but of the same size as the rest of the snake, there 
are three sets of muscles : one set goes from the vertebra of the 
neck to the lower edge of each rib ; but, to give these muscles 
a greater length of fibre, they are not inserted into the rib 
immediately above the vertebra, but pass upwards and outwards 
over three ribs, and are inserted into the fourth, at the middle 
part of it. These muscles become antagonists to those which 
raise the ribs. 
The second set arises from the points of the ribs ; and each 
muscle goes to be inserted into the skin, nearer the head, coun- 
teracting the muscles which bring the skin forwards, and 
'drawing it, by their action, back again. The third set goes from 
the root of one scutum to the root of the scutum immediately 
above it, so as to bring it down upon the other. 
The object of the present Paper being to explain the mecha- 
nism upon which the hood, the peculiar characteristic of this 
species of snake, depends, it is not meant to enter into the uses for 
which the hood is intended. It may not however be improper to 
observe, that the expansion of the ribs answers no good purpose 
respecting the lungs, since they are not so situated, in this 
animal, as to receive, any advantage from it; but the gullet, 
where it passes down along the neck, admits of great expansion ; 
and the extended state of the ribs, at the time the animal is 
employed in catching its prey, may give to the gullet a facility 
of being dilated, for the reception of the food. 
