COLUBER VIPERINUS. 221 



pointed ; scales of the back oval, distinctly keeled, those 

 of the sides broader, with the keel less marked, or nearly 

 wanting; ventral plates about 170; subcaudal from fifty- 

 six to sixty-five pairs. The upper parts of the body and 

 head are light brownish grey with a green tinge, sometimes 

 approaching to dull pale olive ; behind the head is a broad 

 collar, or two crescents of bright yellow, with deep black 

 borders on their hinder edges ; sometimes these are con- 

 fluent: down the back are two rows of small, alternate 

 black spots ; along the sides are large black spots, varying 

 in size and in the distance between them ; under surface 

 dull bluish or lead colour, sometimes marbled with black. 

 The female, as in Serpents generally, is much larger than 

 the male. 



Entire length, up to 4 feet. 



Lays from nine to fifteen eggs, which are joined together 

 by a glutinous substance. Frequents chiefly moist situa- 

 tions, swims well, and is fond of the water. Feeds on 

 frogs, mice, and other small animals. 



Is the most common Snake of Europe, in every country 

 of which it is found, from Sicily to Sweden, excepting Ire- 

 land, and the extreme North of Russia. M. Crespon says 

 that in the South of France it is eaten by the peasants. 



Coluber Viperinus. 



Tropidonotus Viperinus, Dum, et Bib. vol. vii. p. 560. 



Coluber Viperinus, | g^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^j ^ 3^^ ^ 



Coluber tessellatus, J 



Natruc Viperina, -| 



Natri^ tessellata, j ^^'^^''- ^^^- ^^^^^ (^^'^ ^^^^«^^^' ^^^ ^^^^)- 



Description. — Head not very distinct from the body; muzzle 

 thick ; one or two pre-ocular, always two post-ocular 

 plates; seven pairs of plates on the upper lip, the third 

 and fourth of which touch the margin of the eye ; the scales 



