ELAPID2E. 
This family has several genera in British India. It is sub¬ 
divided into the Najidts, or snakes with hoods or dilatable 
necks, and the Elapidce, which have no hoods. 
In the first section, Najidce, there are two genera— Naja and 
Op/iiophagus. 
In the second, Elapidce, there are three Indian genera—viz., 
Bungarus, Xenurelaps, and Calloplds. 
The family of Elapidce is characterized by a cylindrical 
body; a rather short and tapering tail; nostril lateral. The 
head has the normal number of shields above, but the loreal 
is always absent; eye rather small, with a round pupil. The 
poison fang has a mark on its convexity, indicating the groove, 
which is quite open in the Hydroplddce. 
NAJA. 
Naja tripudians. 
Gunther gives the following description of the genus Naja :— 
“ Body and tail of moderate length; belly flat; head rather 
high and short, not very distinct from neck, which is very 
dilatable, the anterior ribs being elongate. The shields of the 
head normal, but the loreal is absent. Nostril wide, lateral, 
between two shields; eye of moderate size, with round pupil. 
One prse-, three, sometimes two or four post-oculars. Six upper 
labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit; the third forms 
the lower half of the anterior margin of the orbit. Scales 
smooth, much imbricate, in numerous series round the hood. 
Anal entire; sub-caudals two-rowed. The fang is grooved, 
with foramen at its extremity; one or two small ordinary teeth 
at a short distance behind it.” 
There is only one species, and that is Naja tripudians, or 
the Cobra di Capello, or Naga. 
Coluber naja, L. Sys. Nat. 
Naja lutescens. Cantor. 
„ tripudians, Gunther; Gray. 
,, larvata. Cantor. 
,, atra, Cantor. 
„ kaouthia, Cantor. 
But there are several varieties, each having a distinct name 
given to it by the natives. They are all most deadly, and 
though the snake-charmers consider some more poisonous than 
others, it is probable that any difference that may exist is 
more due to the vigour of the individual snake than to any 
thing attributable to the particular variety. They all have 
the hood, and they never attack without distending it. They 
raise the anterior third of the body from the ground, slide 
slowly along on the posterior two-thirds, and with the hood 
dilated remain on the alert, darting the head forward to the 
attack when anything hostile approaches. This attitude is 
very striking, and few objects are more calculated to inspire 
awe than a large Cobra, when with his hood erect, hissing 
loudly, and his eyes glaring, he prepares to strike. Neverthe¬ 
less, they are not, I believe, aggressive; and unless interfered 
with or irritated, they crawl along the ground with the neck 
undilated, looking not unlike the innocent snakes, but the 
moment they are disturbed, they assume the menacing attitude 
I have described. 
The Naja tripudians, or Cobra, grows to the length of five 
feet and a half, or even more. On one occasion I received a 
living female Cobra from Nagpore, C.P., sent by Dr. W. B. 
Beatson. It was of the variety called “ ICurrees Gokurrah,” of 
a light chocolate colour, without any mark on the hood. It was 
five feet eight inches long, including the tail, which measured 
eleven and a quarter inches. In girth it was six and a quarter 
inches. It was very powerful and fierce, and Dr. Beatson told 
me that it killed a fowl in one minute. 
This was the largest Cobra I have seen, but I believe they 
attain even a greater size than this. The Cobra is found all 
over Hindostan up to 8000 feet high in the Himalaya; but 
Mr. Hodgson says he has never seen it in the Nepal valley.* 
It is equally dreaded and fatal everywhere. The varieties are 
numerous, and they are distinguished by the markings on the 
hood, and by various shades of colour, from the darkest olive 
or black with a purple iridescence, to a pale chocolate, fawn, or 
yellow colour. They are all, notwithstanding their differences 
of colour or marking, considered by naturalists to be but 
varieties of one species. They have various names in different 
parts of India, and are regarded by the snake-catchers as 
different species, and as having different powers of destruction. 
Such differences most likely depend on age, vigour, or other 
circumstances, as naturally the intensity of the jioison of the 
different varieties is probably almost equal. 
The Cobra is a nocturnal snake, that is, it is most active in 
the night, but it is often seen moving about in the day. It is 
oviparous ; the eggs, from eighteen to twenty-five in number, are 
obovate, and about the size of those of a pigeon, the shell is white, 
but tough and leathery. The Cobras feed on small animals, 
birds’ eggs, frogs, fish, or insects; they rob hen roosts and 
swallow the eggs whole ; they prefer taking their food at dusk 
or in the night. They are said to drink a great deal of water; 
but it is certain that they will live weeks, even months, in 
captivity without touching food or water. They go into water 
readily, and swim well, but are essentially terrestrial snakes. 
They can climb, and occasionally ascend trees in search of 
food. Cobras are not unfrequently found in the roofs of 
huts, holes in walls, fowl houses, old ruins, under logs of wood, 
in cellars, old brick kilns, and old masonry of stone, brickwork, 
or mud. Such are the common dwelling-places of these reptiles, 
and where they are frequently disturbed by men, who stepping 
on or inadvertently disturbing and touching them receive their 
death-wound. 
The Cobra is most deadly, and its poison, when thoroughly 
inoculated by a fresh and vigorous snake, is quickly fatal. 
Paralysis of the nerve centres takes place, and death occurs 
with great rapidity, sometimes in a few minutes, especially when 
the fangs, having penetrated a vein, inoculate the poison imme¬ 
diately into the venous circulation. The number of deaths 
caused yearly in India by these snakes is perfectly appalling. 
The cases in which recovery occurs are, it is to be feared, very 
few ; treatment appears to be of little avail unless it be almost 
immediate, and then in the case of a genuine bite there is but 
little hope of saving life. As to the mode of treatment, and other 
matters connected with the bite of the Cobra, and the great mor¬ 
tality caused by it in India, they will be described subsequently. 
* I believe it is to be found in the Nepal valley. I have seen it in the Oude 
Terai. 
