The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-04-19
The Cobra de CapellO.


corning one of 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 (Ncjn tripu-
dsans), sometimes called the hood
ed" or spectacle snake" is the most
dreaded of all the venomous snakes of
India. When excited or confronting an
enemy it assumes a remarkably graceful
posture of de Tense by raising the forepart
of the body to a height of, perhaps, foot
and 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, kind of spiral
spring, which, aided by the elasticity and
muscular power of its frame, enables it
SO soon as it deems its opponent to be
within range of its stroke, to launch it.
self forward with lightning rapidity. In
an instant the bite is given, which, as we
shall presently see, is nearly if not al
ways fatal. believe that the cobra de
capello is found throughout Hindostan,
though it is far more numerous in some
localities than in others. In some of our
Bengal stations where have been quar-
tered, l have not seen a single cobra nor
noticed the trace of one from one years
end to the other; in others, especially
during rains" hardly week has
passed without several having been seen.
In Bundelcund, especially in the neigh
borhOod Of Jhansi and Lullutpore, the CO.
bra is unusually 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 accu.
mulate. During the day it is rarely seen
abroad, but lies cOiled up asleep in its
place of concealment, sallying forth in
search of food as soon as darkness sets in.
1t preys chiefly on frogs, toads, rats,
young birds, and the like. II 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 hot weather months, when, on
account of the oppressive heat, doors and
windows are left w. wen throughout
the night, and there IS nothing to bar the
entrance Of -'"ruliil of all sorts, it is moth.
ing unusual in the morning to find por-
tons of the slough cast off its body by a
providing cobra. Houses with matched
roofs, particularly old buildings, are al
ways more frequented by snakes than tiled
dwellings of recent construction. 1t is q
mistake to imagine that the cobra, or, in
fact, any other kind of serpent that l am
acquainted with, will ever bite or modest
human beings, unless disturbed, meddled
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 q retreat when discov-
cred by man, and, unless driven into a
corner, or followed up, speedily vanish
into some old rat.hole or other hiding
place, without showing, beyond a
threatening hiss, q sign of opposition to,
or desire of retaliating on, the intruder.
I believe that nearly always it is the sense
OF fear more than anything else that in
duces the cobra, when surprised or
touched even without hurt. instantane-
ously to turn and bite the person who has
alarmed it. The boots and trousers or
CATERS usually worn by Europeans when
out walking or shooting in great meas
ure protect the wearers from the teeth of
snakes. Natives of India, on the other
hand, in spite of tie fearful loss of life
annually Occasioncd among them by
poisonous snakes, appear to be perfectly
callous and Indifferent about guarding
against such dangerous creatures, neg
lecting to take even the most ordinary pre-
cautions. Some classes sleep on charpoys
or native bedsteads; but the great major
ity, especially of the poorer orders, sleep
on the ground, with their heads wrapped
up. and their bodies enveloped in a sheet
or blanket. A cobra, when travelling at
night in search of food, instead of circling
round, often crosses over the body or legs
of a sleeper, the weight and movement Of
the reptile partially awaken the unfortu-
nate slumberer, who, in half conscious
state, puts out his hand to discover what
has disturbed him, probably touches the
hideous intruder, and is Immediately
bitten.