Another case of the same kind is narrated by Waller, who writes: “A young girl met with her death in a truly dramatic fashion. She was walking behind some porters on a narrow path, when suddenly an Aspic came out of a thick bush, attacked and bit her in the thigh; in spite of all efforts to save her the unfortunate girl died in less than ten minutes.” This instance, which is absolutely authentic, proves the truth of the statements made by various travellers. Natives assert that a full-grown _Naja_ invariably pursues either a man or an animal, however large, when either passes within its range (Brehm). Snake-charmers, of whom there are many in Egypt, always employ _Naja haje_ for their performances. They know how to capture it, and tear out its fangs by making it bite a bundle of rags. This species rarely lives more than six or eight months in captivity, and is quite untamable. It is fond of bathing, and remains in the water for hours together. “The Ancient Egyptians,” write Duméril and Bibron,[3] “are known to have worshipped the _Naja_, which they regarded as the protector of their crops. They allowed it to live and multiply among the cultivated lands, which they apparently entrusted to the care of their tutelary guardian, recognising that this snake freed them from the ravages of the rats, the immense number of which otherwise caused terrible destruction and even actual famine. It was, therefore, from motives of gratitude that the Egyptian Cobra was venerated in this way; that its image was hung up in the temples; that its skin was embalmed; and that its effigy, so easy to recognise and to reproduce roughly, was graven or sculptured on the stones of their monuments. This is the explanation of the fact that paintings representing _N. haje_ are frequently reproduced in hieroglyphics and on Egyptian sarcophagi.” The _Naja_ was the tutelary deity of the temples, whose duty was to prevent the profane from entering. Thus, in one of the crypts of Denderah we find represented _Serpent-genie_, figures with a head like that of a _Naja_ supported by the body of a man, with the hands armed with enormous cutlasses (Mariette, _Dendérah_, p. 91, 1875). * * * * * (2) _N. flava._--Same arrangement of scales. Neck dilatable. 200-227 ventrals; 50-67 subcaudals. Colour very variable, yellowish, reddish, brown, or black, uniform or with light spots; sometimes a black transverse band on the neck. Total length, 1,470 millimetres; tail 230. _Habitat_: South Africa. (3) _N. melanoleuca._--Coloration very variable. Sides of the head yellow or whitish; labial shields tinged with black on the posterior edge. Total length, 2,400 millimetres; tail 400. _Habitat_: Tropical Africa. (4) _N. nigricollis._--Third supralabial shield the deepest, sixth and seventh not in contact with the postoculars; 183-228 ventral scales; 55-68 subcaudals. Coloration very variable; lower surface of the neck with a black transverse bar.