Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-21
The Cobra de CapelIO.


We have been favored, saws
Chambers Journal, with the fol-
lowing details concerning one o.
the deadliest Of the Indian snakes
the cobra, by a gentleman who has
passed many years in the East He
says:
The cobra de capello (Naia tri.
pudians), sometimes called the
hooded" or "spectacle snake,
is the most dreaded of all the veno,
nous snakes of India. When ex.
cited Or confronting an enemy il
assumes remarkably graceful pos
ture of defense by raising the fore.
part of the body to a hight of,
perhaps, a foot and a half from the
ground, and at the same moment
drawing together into a coil the
remaining portion Of its body and
tail, till it forms, as it were, a kind
of spiral spring, which, aided by
the elasticity and muscular power
of its frame, enables it SO soon as ii
deems its opponent to be within
range of its stroke, to launch itself
forward with lightning rapidity
In an instant the bite is given,
which, as we shall presently see, is
nearly if not always fatal. Ibelieve
that the cobra de capello is found
throughout Hindostan, though il
is far more numerous in some
localities than in others. In some
Of our Bengal stations where
have been quartered, | have mol
seen a single cobra nor noticed The
trace of one from one years end tC
the other; in others, especially
during" the rains," hardly a week
has passed without several having
been seen. In Bundeclund, espec,
tally in the neighborhood of Jhansi
and Lullutporc, the cobra is un-
usually common. 1t harbors chiefly
in holes under the foundations and
in the walls Of old ruined forts and
temples, in honeycombed ant-hills
in the sides of old wells, or amid
the debris of fallen buildings and
deserted outhouses, particularly
where grass and jungle have been
allowed to grow and rubbish to
accumulate. During the day it is
rarely seen abroad, but lies coiled up
asleep in its place of concealment,
sallyng forth in search of food as
soon as darkness sets in. 1t preys
chiefly on frogs, toads, rats, young
birds, and the like. It will readily
invade a house in quest Of such
creatures, and, on entering room,
travels round the angles made
by the walls and floor. During
the lfOt weather months, when, on
account of the oppressive heat,
doors and windows are left wide
open throughout the night, and
there is nothing to bar the entrance
of yermin Of oil sorts, it is nothing
unusual in the morning to find por-
tions. of the slough cast off its body
by a prowling cobra. Houses with
thatched roofs, particularly old
buildings, are always more frequent
ed by snakes than tiled dwellings
of recent construction. 1t is q mis-
take to imagine that the cobra, or,
in fact, any other kind of serpent
that | am acquainted with, will
ever bite or modest human beings,
unless disturbed, meddlpd with or
provoked in the first instance. On
the contrary, the greater majority
of snakes are only too glad to be
permitted to escape and beat a re-
treat when discovered by man, and,
unless driven into a corner or fol.
lowed up, speedily vanish into some
old rat-hole or other hiding place,
without showing beyond a threat
ening hiss, sign of opposition to-
or desire of retailiating on, the in
truder. | believe that nearly al
ways it is the sense of fear more
than anything else that induces
the cobra, when surprised OF
touched even without hurt
instantaneously to turn and
bite the person who has
alarmed it. The boots and Trousers
or CATERS usually worn by Euro
peans when out walking or shoot
/ ,,,r. -, a croat -, anr,,~o ,,rnAaof al.