Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-19
DEADLIEST OF SNAKES
ASPECT, HABITS AND HABITAT
OF vENoMoUs COBRA.
Poison of the Reptile Injected Into
the Circulatory System Soon
Proves Fatal.
From the Scientific American.

The India COBRA or cobra di capello (Naja
tripudians), is the most deadly of all snakes
1t inhabits India and Ceylon, Burma tho
Andamans. southern China, Indo- China and
the Malay peninsula and archipelago In
the Himalayas its range extends to an alti-
tude of 5000 feet. To the west it ranges
to Afghanistan, northeast Persia and south
Turkestan as far as the east coast of the
Caspian
Cobras are most active at night. They
feed on small animals, birds eggs, frogs
fish or insects. They attack hen roosts and
swallow the eggs whole They drink q
great deal of water. although they can live
for weeks, even months. in captivity with
out touching food water. Cobras can
climb, and occasionally ascend trees in
search of food. AS a rule they not ag-
gressive, and unless interfered with irri-
tated they crawl along the ground with
neck undated. looking like some harmless
snake. but the moment they are disturbed
they assume menacing attitude. The poi
son of a cobra. when thoroughly inoculated
by fresh and vigorous specimen. is
quickly fatal. Paralysis of the nerve
ter takes place and death follows rapidly,
sometimes in few moments. especially
when the fangs. having penetrated vein,
inoculate the poison Immediately into the
venous circulation. The venom is harmless,
however, If taken internally, nor is il fatal
when brought in contact with mucous
surface such as the interior of the stomach
or the eye. The natives of India distinguish
between cobras with spectacies on the hood
the Cgokurrahs'D and those with only one
ocelus or other mark the hood C'keau-
tiahs'D. DIR. ]. Fayrer, in his "Thanato-
phidia'' mentions the following varieties OF
gokurrah: kafa (black), koyah tblack and
white), gomunah (wheat colored). puddah
(yellow), dudiah (whitish), tentuliah (tama-
rind-seed colored), kurrees (earthy color.
tameshur Copper colored) and puddun nag
gold colored). OF the keautiah: Kala
(black), tentuliah Ctamarind-seed coloredl.
kurrees (earth colored), sonora gold col
ored) dudiah (whitish), bans uniah mot
tied white and black, gfribungha Drown
ish), koyah (black and white). sankha-
mookhi (black and Yellow.
Varieties of Cobra.
In many parts of India a cobra of any Of
these varieties is simply called 'kala samp'
or mag samp" Another species of cobra
occure in Africa, where in the northern
part 1t is known technically as "naja haja,'
while in southern Africa occurs a cobra
like snake belonging to a different genus
and known as "sepedon hoemachates-
In India the cobra 8 scientific name, as
already stated is Naja tripudians. and
while many varieties exist there, II seems
to be agreed that they all really belong 10
one species. a conclusion based on study
of the scales The average length of the
cobra hardly exceeds four feet, with a.
diameter of two inches although specimens
six feet The largest specimen in the Brit
ish Museum is six feet four inches In
length, the tail being one foot long.
When searching for prey the cobra slides
about easily and quietly, but once excited
he raises his head and large part of his
body straight in the air, while the remain
der Is gathered beneath in coll as klnd
OF support. His next warllke movement IS
to spread out his upper ribs laterally, eX-
tending six or more inches downward from
the head, thus converting his neck into a
thin hattened, oval disk four or hve
inches broad" This is the hood which Is
found in the Indian, and in a smaller de-
gree on the North African cobra. but is en-
tirely wanting in the form found in South
Africa Above the hood protrudes the head,
expectant and held horizontally, facing the
foe.
Probably the average annual number or
the cobra's victims in India alone which Is
placed at about 10000, would be very much
greater II II did not possess such nervous
tempera ment, which often leads the snake
to strike at a moving object long before 1t
is near enough to reach the object effectu-
ally, thus wasting large amount OF venom.
Method Of Attack.
When a cobra strikes, he Kisses audibly
and Immediately reassumes his erect posi-
ton, and thus he continues to act as long
as danger menaces or a safe avenue or
escape does not present itself. The turning
to the left and right, as above mentioned,
constitutes the so-called cobra dancing"
which many have attributed to the influence
Of music, but which, combined with the APP
pearance of faintness and death, which
these snakes sometimes assume, are prop
orly refcrable to the natural tactics or de-
tense and attack, while the "fainting Is
simply temporarily weakened condition
due to its extremely nervous and excitable
disposition
The Indian cobra must not be confused
with the hamadryas or King cobra, which
also has a wide distribution in southeastern
NIA IndO % Ia va
the Philippines 1t is much larger than the
COBRA one recorded specimen measuring
sixteen feet nine inches. Fortunately, it II
not SO venomous as the cobra.