104 
COBRA DE CAPELLO. 
dog in less than twenty-seven minutes, whereas the 
bite of the rattle-snake has been known to kill a dog 
in the space of two minutes. 
The cobra de capello is a native of India, where 
it is much dreaded for the malignity of its poison. 
It commonly grows to the length of three or four 
feet; is of an uniform chestnut colour, and is re- 
markable for a spot on the neck which resembles 
a pair of spectacles. It seems that the female is 
without this mark, and has in consequence been 
mistaken for another species. The Indians who 
travel in the woods with naked feet are justly 
afraid of this snake, as it springs upofi them with 
great agility, and its bite produces certain death, 
unless the proper remedies are instantly made use 
of. Nevertheless the Indian jugglers contrive to 
tame this among other serpents which they exhibit 
to the people. “ On these occasions,” says La Ce- 
pede, “ the juggler holds a particular root in his 
hand, which he pretends has the power of insur- 
ing him against the venomous bite of his serpent. 
Taking the serpent from a close vessel, in which it 
is ordinarily kept confined, he enrages it by threat- 
ening it with a stick or his fist. The snake im- 
mediately erects itself upon its tail in a posture of 
defence, blows up its neck, opens its dreadful 
mouth with a hissing noise, thrusting out its forked 
tongue, and, agitating itself with great vivacity, 
while its eyes gleam like fire, begins a kind of com- 
bat with its master, who continues to threaten it 
with his fist, which he moves continually and 
