448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



Nomenclature {a) Scientific. — The name Python came into generic 

 use in 1803, when Danderi associated this snake with that known 

 to the ancients by this name. 



The word Python seems to be derived from the Pythian Vale, in 

 the nind of which the fabled monster of the Greeks was supposed 

 to have been generated after the Deluge. Milton* refers to the 

 event in the following terms : — 



" but st'U greatest he the midst. 

 Now dragon grown, larger than whom the Sun 

 Engendered in the Pythian vale on slime 

 Huge Python ; and his power no less he seemed 

 Above the rest still to retain." 



Dr. Brewer f says the word is derived from the Greek " puthes- 

 thai " to rot, because the monster after being killed by Apollo was 

 left to rot in the sun. The scene of the tragedy — Mount Parnas- 

 sus — was immortalised by the erection of Delphi, the famous shrine- 

 of Apollo. 



(ft) English.- — It is almost always known to the Anglo-Indiaui 

 as the python, but sometimes is spoken of as the rock snake, by 

 no means an appropriate name. 



(c) Vernacular.- — Throughout India it is pretty generally call- 

 ed " ajgar'' the Hindustani for dragon, but has many other local 

 names. 



In Southern India it is frequently called by the Tamils " periya. 

 pamboo " which simply means " large snake." " Malai pamboo " 

 or " hill snake " is also frequently in use by Tamils, and Father 

 Bertrand, S. J., tells me in some parts the Tamils call it " Kaloodai 

 viriyan " which means " ass viper." Pussell mentions " pedda 

 poda " as the name it is known by in the Ganjam District. This, 



am informed, is the Telugu for " large strikers," "poda " being 

 lie noun formed from the verb " potu " Cpronounced more like 

 " podu ") to strike. Father Higglin, S. J., though has it on good 

 authority that the word is " peda " ahead, and that " pedda peda" 

 means " large head," or " large serpent." In Mysore the Canarese 

 name is " heba havoo " (large snake), but spoken by a native 



* Paradise lost, Bools: X, line (528. ct- seq. 

 t The reacer's handbook of allusions, ets, 



