JOURNAL 



OF THE 



Vol. XVIII. 



BOMBAY. 



BOMBAY 



ftafitral Ipisiorij Sflrktg. 



No. 1, 



A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN 



SNAKES. 



Illustrated by Coloured Plates and Diac4rams. 



By Major F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. 



Part V. with Plate V. 



( Continued from page 870 of Vol. XVII.) 



The Russell's Viper ( Vipera russellii). 



Nomenclature. — Scientific. — The generic name is from the latin vivvs 

 alive, and pario I bring forth. It was first used scientifically by 

 Lanrentiinhis work published in 1768. Daboia, another generic name 

 for along time in use, and perhaps more familiar to many of an older 

 generation, was introduced by Count De La Cepedeinhis work published 

 in 1789.* The name " Le Daboie " was applied by him to a West 

 African viper of uncertain identity marked somewhat similarly to Rus- 

 sell's viper, in that it had 3 series of large oval spots. " Daboie" was, 

 I believe, the local vernacular name for this snake. Later, Gray in 1 842 

 applied the same term, only latinised, to Russell's viper, which, it may 

 be remarked, does not occur in Africa. 



Specific. — This title commemorates the name and fame of 

 Dr. Patrick Russell, a distinguished savant, and the pioneer of all snake 



* P. 255. 



