220 VIPERIDJE 



blackish, with small whitish spots and dots. Reaches 

 a length of 3 J feet. 



This species inhabits the Caucasus, and, being on 

 record from the northern slope (Kuban River), has 

 to be included in the European fauna. It occurs 

 also in Mesopotamia, a specimen from Bagdad being 

 preserved in the British Museum. The young 

 specimen figured on Plate XI. is stated to be from 

 Constantinople. 



Nothing is known of its habits, which are probably 

 the same as those of Tarbophis fallax. 



Fourth Family: VIPERID^E 



Maxillary, palatine, and pterygoid bones movable, 

 the first much abbreviated, erectile perpendicularly 

 to the large transverse bone, and supporting a pair 

 of large canaliculated poison fangs ; mandible with- 

 out coronoid bone. No vestiges of pelvic arch. 



All more or less poisonous, some being among the 

 most dangerous of snakes. 



Divided into two subfamilies, each of which is 

 represented by one genus in Europe : 



Viperince. — No pit on the side of the snout ; 

 maxillary bone not hollowed out. 



Crotalince. — A deep pit on each side of the snout, 

 between the nostril and the eye ; maxillary bone 

 hollowed out above. 



The Viperince inhabit nearly the whole of Europe, 



