THE SMALL RED VIPER. 



211 



cases, however, it is an 

 unusual occurrence, and 

 though its distribution is a 

 fairly wide one, its numbers 

 seem to be small. No doubt 

 a further investigation will 

 establish its occurrence in 

 some other counties. 



Description. — The name 

 small red viper is suffi- 

 ciently descriptive, as the 

 serpent is both small, red, 

 and a viper. It can be at 

 once distinguished by its 

 red, coppery, or ferruginous 

 colour, which is the only 

 colour it shows, the mark- 

 ings being a darker shade 

 of the same colour. The 

 zigzag back - line and the 

 V-shaped head -mark are 

 both present in the same 

 positions as in the adder, 

 but the extra side-line of 

 black or brown patches 

 seen in the latter have 

 been absent in the speci- 

 mens of small red vipers 

 I have examined. There is 



Fig. 42.— Small Red Viper. 



