AND REMARKS ON SERPENTS. 
85 
between the mangoose and the Cobra de Capello ; and in order to prevent the former from having recourse to 
any herb or other remedy, the experiments were made not in the field, but on the terrace at the top of 
the house. 
“ As soon as the mangoose perceived the snake, he took his station in front, watching his motions; and when 
the snake struck at him, he eluded the blow, by skipping alertly to one side; returning, however, immediately 
to his former station. After a short skirmish of this kind, taking the opportunity, when he was sure of his 
mark, he caught the snake's head in his mouth, and bit quite through the skull. This generally proved mortal; 
but where the snake did not die immediately, the mangoose would bite his tail to provoke him to rise again, 
which sometimes the snake did; and then, after some feeble exertions, was sure to be killed by a second 
seizure." 
IV. August 16. -A Nooni Paragoodoo, was brought near a Cobra de Capello, which had been left at 
liberty in a large room. The Cobra's hood was extended, and he kept his eyes fixed on the small snake, but 
without striking, till pushed very near him, when he struck ; but did not bite. The small snake did not snap 
in return, but, after remaining some time quiet, moved slowly off. Being again brought close to the Cobra, 
but rather rudely, he was bitten near the tail, though no marks of teeth could be discerned. After a short 
while, the Nooni glided under the wreaths of the Cobra, and was permitted to go off quietly, without any offer 
to hurt him as he passed. 
A very active Mega Rekula Poda, which snapped at every thing opposed to him, being brought close to 
the Cobra, did not attempt to snap ; and when the Cobra was provoked to bite, seemed to submit without re¬ 
sistance. This was the more remarkable, as he continued to snap at every thing else, and seemed to spring 
from the ground in eagerness to attack. It did not appear that the fangs had acted, and the bite was attended 
with no consequence. 
The next subject opposed to the Cobra, was a Gedi Paragoodoo, which, in all its movements was much tamer 
than either of the former two, and seemed solely intent on escaping out of the room, or retreating into a dark 
corner. When pushed roughly on the Cobra, and consequently struck by him, he made no resistance, nor 
snapped in return ; he did not even offer to retreat, but laid himself close to the Cobra, whose body he often 
touched in his convolutions, without any apparent offence being taken. 
V. -The Cobras de Capello bite each other without any consequence ascribable to their poison, even 
where the fangs visibly acted. (See Sect. II. Exp. XVIII. and XIX.) 
The bite of a Cobra de Capello proved fatal to a Nooni Paragoodoo, and to a Tar Tutta. (See Sect. II. 
Exp. XVII. XIX. 
A Cobra de Capello was bitten twice on the body, by a Katuka Rekula Poda ; but though both fangs acted, 
no symptoms of poison followed. 
VI. -Snakes live a long time without food. I kept two Katuka Rekula Podas from early in March 
to the 20th of July, and then they died from neglect; rain water having filled the pots in which the}r were kept. 
They had been fed only once in the first week, yet in the beginning of July, when I left them, though much 
emaciated, they were lively, hissed fiercely, and seemingly as active as ever. 
But though long abstinence does not destroy, yet it certainly impairs the deleterious power of their poison; 
in like manner as long captivity depresses their spirits, and impairs the fine gloss of their skin. 
I never could induce the venomous snakes to feed spontaneously ; such nourishment as they had was forced 
down their throat by means of a bamboo, and consisted of milk, or a raw egg. Frogs inclosed in the same pot 
with them were left untouched, though found dead ; and though the snakes, when provoked to bite, readily 
killed new hatched chickens, they never eat them. 
When frogs were placed in a corner near to which the snake was coiled up, they remained motionless, as if 
enchanted, without attempting to escape ; but the moment the snake was removed, they jumped off, and 
escaped to the door. 
VII. March. -Upon a predominant notion that snakes have a natural antipathy to garlic, is founded the 
