472 JOURNAL, FiOM BAY NATURAL If Is I. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



(2) A cestode (Solenophorus megacephalus) . Von Linstow f 

 found this parasite once in the intestine of a tiger killed in the- 

 United Provinces, which proved that the carnivore had recently 

 devoured a python. 



(3) A nematode or round worm {Asea/ris attenuata) which 

 inhabits the intestine. These were found by Von Linstow \ in 

 a python from the United Provinces. 



(4) A nematode referred dubiously by Professor Shipley 1i to 

 Asca/ris rubicunda. This was found in the left lung of a Ceylon 

 python . 



(5) A linguatulid (Pooc&phalus moniliformis) also found by 

 Shipley § in the lung of a Ceylon python. 



(6) Captain Patton, I. M.S., tells me that in Southern India he 

 has frequently found the python infested with ticks {Aponommw 

 geryasi) which iix themselves to the skin between the scales. 



In addition to the entozoa and ectozoa above referred to. this- 

 snake harbours — 



(7) A blood parasite (Hcemogregarina pocochi) discovered by 

 Sambon inhabiting the red blood cells. || The intestinal parasite;- 1 

 may become a serious detriment to the health of their host, and 

 even cost the snake its life as shown by Ferguson.** He says at 

 one time all the pythons in one cage in the Trivandrum Gardens, 

 Travancore, died, and showed on post-mortem examination that 

 they were infested with round worms which in many instances 

 had perforated the walls of the stomach and intestines. 



Fables. — I have already under nomenclature referred to the 

 Grecian fable of its autochthonous origin. 



Dr. Percival in his book on Ceylon (p. 303) says that the 



python is reputed by the Singhalese to vanquish tigers, buffaloes 



and even elephants, and it may be this fable that originated the 



name "anaconda," which, as stated under nomenclature, appears to 



be a Ceylon word. 



find. Mus. Records. Vol. II, Pt. 1, page 108. 

 JLoc cit. p. 109. 

 % Loc- cit. 

 § LOC. cit- 



|| P. Z. S-, 1907, p. 283. 

 :: Bombay N. S. Jourl. Vol. X. p.69. 



