COBRA DE CAPELLO. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Coluber Naja. . C. ferrugineo-flavescenS, collo supra macula 
magna conspicillata albo nigroque varia 
notata. 
Ferruginous-yellow Snake, with the neck 
marked above by a large black and white 
spectacle-shaped spot. Shaw Gen. Zool. 3, 
p. 409. pi. 107. 
Coluber Naja. Scutis 193, scutellis 60. 
Linn. Syst. Nat. Gmel. 1. p. 1105. 
Naja lutescens. Laur. Amph. p. 9I. 
no. 197. 
Cobra de Capello. Buss. Serp. 1 . pt. 1 . p. 7. pi. 5 and 6 . 
This most poisonous of serpents derives its Portu- 
guese name of cobra de capello, or hooded snake, 
from a custom which it has, when irritated, of ex- 
panding the skin of its neck, and bending down its 
head so as somewhat to resemble a hood. The 
effect of its poison has been well ascertained by 
many experiments, and found to be certainly fatal ; 
though, from the observations of Dr. Russel, it does 
not seem so quick in its action as the venom of the 
rattle-snake. He never knew it prove mortal to a 
