The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-21

CoBRAs TRYING TO EAT EACH OTHER.
dia says the Philadelphia Times. They
are of the kind known to the naturalist
as the Naia bungara, sometimes called
opheophagus, which means "snake eat
err" They are found largely in India,
though" said Superintendent Brown,
"they abound in Luzon and are probably
one of the best known products of our
new colonial possessions" What the saw
age of the Pacific islands is to his fellow
man the cobra is to other snakes. But,
unlike the cannibal, he will eat nothing
else than snakes This was instanced in
the voyage over.
In the cage in which the zoos snakes
Travelled were IA other snakes, all cobras,
some small, some large. The sailor who
tended the cage was instructed to give
their snakeships fresh chicken or rabbit
each day. The third day out he noticed
there were four snakes missing. lie said
nothing to the captain, however. fearing
| he should be accused of neglect. He eA-
amined the cage carefully, but could find
no sign of hole by which they might
have escaped. The fourth day there were
| five less in the cage, and. becoming thor
! oughly alarmed, he told the captain, who
instituted search throughout the ship,
| but the missing snakes were not found.
| The next morning, on going to feed the
reptiles, the sailor was just in time to see
The tail of one of them disappear down
| The throat of the largest cobra. There
We're but five left in the cage.
To save these all from extinction the
| two large ones were separated from the
rest, and there seemed to be harmony in
| both camps for the rest of the voyage.
When, however, the big ones were re-
moved from their cage upon their arrival
here one of them struck viciously at Mr..
Carson, the assistant superintendent, who
was standing near, and he narrowly es-
capped death. Since their arrival both
snakes have refused to eat, even declin-
ing tempting pine snake which was Of
fered them. Their desire seems to be
that ope should overcome the other, and
it is thought that had such been the re-
suit of the battle there would now
be but one cobra in the zoo.
The larger cobra has history. Last
fall Captain Lawrence st. Leger of the
Eighth loyal fusileers was up at Nag
pur. own about $50 miles from Calcut-
tn 4ooting with party of friends. One
aay the party halted at little village
and found the natives in great state OF
large serpent had taken possession of a
hut, after driving out the owners, and
that it had struck, with fatal aim, a child
about years old. The body of the child
was exposed in hut near by, and the
mother was frantic with grief. Captain
st. Leger, man of sportsmanlike no
tons conceived the idea of capturing the
reptile and adding the stuffed skin to his
collection He had some difficulty in car
rying out his plans, however, for the na-
tiyes stricken with fear, had fled from
the neighborhood of the hut and could
hardly be induced to give assistance. Iii
nally, upon the offer of a large reward
| two brave young fellows offered to help
him. One of them was noted runner
while the other WAS the village Sandow
and could lift IN OK.
The runner, whose name was Mahat
Singh. was to stand before the door ano
worry the snake into coming out, the
other, who enjoyed the appellation OF
Ramah Putab was to do the rest. Wher
all was ready, st. Leger posted his two
men and stood by to await the result
The runner approached the door, armed
with Il long lance. The other man stood
by the side of the door. Mahab entered
and found the reptile coiled up in cor
ner, apparently asleep. No sooner, how
ever, had he prodded it with his lance
then the coils unwound and the cobra
ma,ie dart at him. But he was at
safe distance and ran out of the door
the snake following. He purposely raj
in a zigzag course, and the reptile follow
ed his motions. In the meantime the
other man pursued the snake. He sooI
caught up with it, and, grasping it firm
" by the tail, he braced himself ani
swung it around above his head unit
the reptile was reduced to condition Of
partial Hpconsciousness.