IftO 
THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN 
This widely-distributed viper lias been found in the Egyptian Sudan by 
Dr. il. Wenyon. It seems to be much less common here than in the other parts 
of Tropical Africa, its place being taken by the following species. It feeds especially 
on frogs and toads. 
Cii.iisux reb-imuf, Peters 
Green Viper Qreeil \ ipev 
Boulenger, l.c., p. 4G8 ; Werner, l.c., p. 1(SH4 
Figured and first described by Peters, in }roiiriM>ri-. Akad. H7.s'.s'., Berlin, 18C2, p. 277, 
Plate XrX. 
Snout more prominent than in the preceding species, often more or less distinctly turned 
up at the end. Scales smooth or more or less distinctly keeled (strongly in adult specimens 
from the Sudan, the keels not reaching the point of the scales) in 19 to 22 rows; ventrals, 
134 -155; subcaudals, 17-27 pairs. Greyish or bluish-green above, with a dorsal series 
of narrow black, curved or chevron-shaped cross-bars pointing backwards ; oblique narrow' 
black bars on the sides, often reduced to mere traces or to black margins on some of the 
scales. Black margins of three and four upper labials, a Idack line from behind the eye to 
the posterior margin of the fifth upper labial, constant in Sudanese specimens ; the ^-shaped 
spot on the back of the head with the point on the posterior point of the frontal shield ; 
lower surfaces yellowish-white, uniform or shields margined posteriorly with black. 
Total length, 670 inm.; tail, 70 mm. 
Common on the banks of the Sobat River, where it is known by the missionaries of 
Doleib Hill as the “ Green Viper.” Dr. Wenyon found it at Tautikia, and I myself found 
it at Khor Attar (White Nile). Nothing seems to be known about its habits. 
Genus: Atractaspis, Smith 
Poison-fangs enormously developed ; lower jaw with very few and small teeth ; head, 
small, not distinct from the neck, covered with large symmetrical shields as in the preceding 
genus; no loreal; eye, minute, with round pupil, in contact with upper labials. Body, 
cylindrical, rather elongate; scales smooth, in 17-37 row’s; ventrals rounded. Tail short, 
subcaudal, single or in two rows. 
Tropical and South Africa ; South Arabia. 
Burrowing snakes, of small size and mostly uniform dark coloration. l\Iost of the 
numerous (about twenty) species are rare, and represented in collections by a single 
or few specimens. They are oviparous. 
Afracta.ipi.< wirrulepidata, Gilnther 
Plate XX., fig. 1 
Giinther, in Aiinah and Mdpdzinc af Xatural ITigtonj (3) XVIII., 1866, p. 29, Plate VIT., 
fig. 3 ; and (6) I., 1888, p. 332 
Boulenger, A)i)i. Mhk., (Ivnavd, (2) XV., 1895, p. 15; and I'at. Hiiakei:, IIP, 1896, 
p. 517 
Peters, ifonatslipr. Akdd. Il7.<s., Berlin, 1866, p. 890; and in Decken’s “ Reise 0. Afr.,” 
III., p. 17, Plate I., fig. 3 (1869) 
As there are still several species of this genus which one may expect to find in the 
Sudan, I reproduce here the full description, given by Boulenger, to avoid confusion with 
others: — 
“ Snout very short, prominent, subcuneiform. Portion of rostral, visible from above, 
nearly as long as its distance from the frontal; suture between the inter-nasal as long as 
