1001 Space Earth Nature Evolution Fossils and Prehistoric Life Dinosaurs Simple Animals Insects and Spiders Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Sea Mammals Land Mammals Plant Kingdom How Plants Live Unusual Plants Ecology Conservation Animal Behaviour Pets and Farm Animals History Human World Science and Technology

How do you charm a snake? The cobra is often used in the Indian snake charmer's act. When the snake charmer plays on a pipe, the poisonous cobra rises up out of its opened basket and begins to sway from side to side. Despite appearances, the cobra is in fact deaf and cannot hear the music. It is the rhythmic swaying of the snake charmer's pipe that the cobra watches and follows with its own swaying motion. When threatened, the cobra rears up and spreads its hood to make it appear bigger.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: Nature Chapter: Reptiles