196 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
the high grass, and began to creep after the musician, stopping when he stopped, 
and beginning to follow him again as soon as he moved forward. In this 
manner he was led out of the camp, attended by a great number of spectators, 
both savages and Europeans, who could scarcely believe their eyes, when they 
beheld this wonderful effect of harmony. The assembly unanimously decreed 
that the serpent which had so highly entertained them, should be permitted to 
escape.”— Natural History of the Bible. 
The Serpent-eating Homodryas [Homodryas elaps) is a species nearly 
allied to the cobra, being almost equally deadly, and possessing a like dis¬ 
tensible neck, though the workings are somewhat different, as will be seen by 
reference to the accompanying engraving. This serpent is peculiar from all 
others in that its sole food seems to be reptiles, of which lizards and snakes, 
whether venomous or otherwise, constitute the principal part. It is industrious 
and courageous in pursuit of its prey, being specially interesting to the observer 
when seeking to make a victim of another snake. At such a time the homo¬ 
dryas erects its head very high and with a dreadful hissing expands the hood, 
following with piercing eye and moving head every motion of its prey. 
At a favorable moment it launches upon and at the same time gives its victim 
a bite, which produces death, from poisoning, within a few moments. The 
swallowing next follows, after which the reptile is lethargic for twelve hours, 
but it does not make a second meal usually for ten days or two weeks after. 
Its bite is equally as fatal as that of the cobra, being sufficient to produce 
death in an elephant within two hours after being bitten. This snake is also 
variable in coloring, some being of an olive hue on the back and a dull orange 
below, while others are a dirty brown with cross bands of white. Like the 
cobra it is oviparous, and has for its enemies certain birds that destroy the 
eggs, and the ichneumon which will not only eat the young, but does not 
hesitate to attack the largest snake. A fight between the ichneumon, gener¬ 
ally called the mongoose, and the cobra, or homodryas , affords a sight memor¬ 
able for the cunning, wariness, celerity of action, and ferocity displayed. The 
serpent, apparently unmindful of the character of its enemy, feels confident of 
its venomous power, and promptly engages the quadruped. The ichneumon, 
however, better advised of the ability of its antagonist, manifests a cunning 
curious to see. It nimbly skips about the snake, constantly inviting an attack 
but always skilfully, and, it appears, luckily, escaping every stroke of what 
must soon be the victim. Sometimes this attack and strategy continues for 
half an hour, but at length the snake, worried by its futile attacks, becomes 
less watchful, and at a favorable moment the ichneumon now leaps high in 
the air and alights with certainty upon its victim, and, seizing the reptile’s 
neck, crushes the vertebrae with a speedily fatal grip of its sharp teeth. The 
homodryas frequently attains a surprising growth, exceeding fifteen feet. 
The Spitting-Snake, or African Cobra, resembles its East India congeners, 
showing a material distinction in only one singular respect, and from which 
the name has been given. Quite as venomous as its Asiatic brother, it is 
somewhat more to be dreaded by reason of its habit of projecting its poison to 
a considerable distance and with almost unerring aim. It is easily provoked, 
and not only attacks viciously but' will pursue its enemy, and when unable to 
bite expels its venom in a small stream very much after the manner of the 
archer fish. 
