VIPERA 229 



130 to 150 in females; anal entire ; subcaudals 31 to 

 37 in males, 24 to 30 in females. 



Coloration. — As in V. ursinii, the sexes are alike in 

 coloration. European specimens (Plate XII.) are very 

 similar to V. ursinii, except that the labial shields are 

 markedly dark-edged and speckled or spotted with 

 brown or black. The dorsal band or series of spots 

 is dark brown, edged with blackish ; the ground 

 colour of the middle of the back and of the scales of 

 the two outer rows on each side is yellowish, of the 

 sides (four rows of scales) greyish-brown with two or 

 three series of dark brown spots ; two dark A-shaped 

 markings on the head; a dark postocular streak, 

 extending or not to the side of the neck. The lower 

 parts are whitish or pale greyish, with blackish dots, 

 of which there is a series of larger ones along each 

 side of the belly. The tip of the tail is never 

 yellow. 



Central Asian specimens are of a pale yellowish 

 sand-colour, with a brown, dark-edged dorsal zigzag 

 band or series of spots and two series of small spots 

 on the sides. Belly whitish, dotted or spotted with 

 black, or uniform blackish. 



Size. — 23 inches is the length of the largest 

 specimen examined. 



Distribution. — In Europe V. renardi, which has 

 long been confounded with V. bents, is abundant in 

 the district of Uralsk, in the steppe around Sarepta, 

 in Crimea, and it is also found in Cis-Caucasia and 



