74 



VENOMS 



on the body in 33 — 41 rows, strongly keeled ; lateral scales slightly 

 oblique ; 125 — 140 ventrals ; 17 — 33 subcaudals. 



This viper, which often attains a length of 1,200 millimetres, is 

 brown, with a vertebral series of quadrangular, yellowish, or light 

 brown spots connected by black markings ; the belly is dull yellow, 

 with small brown or blackish spots. 



Habitat : Tropical Africa (West Africa, from Liberia to Damara- 

 land ; Zanzibar, Mozambique). 



This species, which is nocturnal, is often met with on the 

 Gaboon, and in the forests near the banks of the Ogowai. Its 

 head is enormous, triangular in shape, and wider above ; it has 

 a bulky body, and a very short tail, terminating abruptly in a 

 point. 



The Gaboon Viper is a savage snake, with very active venom, 

 and its poison-glands are of the size of large almonds. It lives 

 in virgin forests, among dead wood and rocks. I have several 

 times met with it in manioc plantations on the edge of the woods. 

 In broad daylight it is sluggish, moves somewhat slowly, and never 

 attacks man. It bites only when surprised. 



(8) B. nasicornis (fig. 39). 

 — Nostrils opening upwards 

 and outwards. Head covered 

 with small strongly keeled 

 scales, smaller on the vertex, 

 14 — 16 from one eye to the 

 other ; 2 or 3 pan-s of com- 

 pressed, erectile, horn - like 

 shields between the supra- 

 nasals, usually separated in 

 the middle by 1 or 2 series of 

 small scales ; 15 — 18 supra- 

 labials ; 4 — 6 infralabials. Scales on the body in 35 — 41 rows, 

 strongly keeled ; 124 — 140 ventrals ; 1(3 — 32 subcaudals. 



Colour purple or reddish-brown above, with pale olive or dark 



Fig. 39. — Bitis nasicornis. 

 (After Dumeril and Bibron.) 



