ECHIDNA INORNATA. 



This snake was killed in the Sneeubergen, or Snow-mountains, which are 

 situated immediately behind the village of Graaff Reynet, and was presented 

 to the expedition party by J. Lieb, Esq., the government surveyor of the 

 district. , 



Little is known of the habits of this Snake, save that, Hke the other species of the genus, it 

 is indolent, and heedless of the approach of man. 



In addition to the species here figured, we shall, during the progress of these illustrations, 

 have occasion to furnish representations of two others — the one Vipera ocellata, Smith,* (not 

 Latreille), the other yet undescribed. The former has a projecting cylindrical scale, from a line 

 to a line and a half in length upon each eye-brow, and is readily to be distinguished from 

 Vipera cornuta, Daud, by having the under surface of the tail, whatever may be the age of the 

 specimen, covered with scales nearly similar in form to those on the remaining portion, and 

 faintly carinated. The latter, Vipera atropoides, exhibits a manifest resemblance to Vipera 

 atropos, Daud, having, like it, two rows of black spots along the middle of the back, and 

 some irregularly coloured variegations on the sides. It diifers, however, in many material 

 points, more particularly as regards the form and proportions of the head, and the arrangement 

 of the scales, especially around and near the eyes. 



Taking these into consideration, we will in future have to record six species of the genus 

 Vipera as inhabitants of South Africa, viz., Vipera arietans, Merr. ; V. atropos, Latr. ; 

 V. cornuta, Daud ; V. inornata. Smith ; V. ocellata, Smith ; V. atropoides, Smith : or if we 

 adopt the subdivisions proposed by Merrem and Wagler, which, in the present state of the 

 science, may probably be employed with advantage, these species will stand : — Echidna 

 arietans, — JE7. atropos, — E. inornata, — E. atropoides, — Cerastes cornutus, and C. ocellatus. 



The vipers, and one or two species of Elaps, are the only snakes of South Africa which 

 permit themselves generally to be closely approached without evincing any apparent con- 

 cern; the others either manifest a disposition to act on the offensive, or to fly; even an 

 unusual noise, without its cause being visible, is sufficient to ensure the retreat of the innocuous 

 ones. The different species of Naia and the Elaps luhricus, Merr., but particularly the 

 former, are always ready for the fight, and when their haunts are invaded, they often advance 

 upon the intruder with the head and anterior part of the body almost perpendicular, the neck 

 expanded, and an expression sufficiently indicative of the malignant purpose they have in view. 

 To witness such a proceeding, once fell to my own lot. Walking in the vicinity of Graham's 

 Town, I happened to excite the attention of a Naia Haemachates, which immediately raised its 

 head, and warned me of my danger by the strength of its expiration ; it then commenced an 

 advance, and had I not retired, I should, in all probability, have suffered, provided I had not 

 been fortunate enough to disable it, which possibly would not have happened, consider- 

 ing that the species, in commonwith others of the genus, is extremely active. Even though 

 I retired, I was not satisfied the danger was past, as the flight of this snake's enemy does 

 not always put a stop to its advance, when once commenced. An officer of the Cape corps, 

 upon whose accuracy the most implicit rehance was to be placed, informed me that he once 

 was chased twice round his waggon by an individual of the same species, and the pursuit might 

 have been prolonged had not a Hottentot disabled the enraged reptile by a blow from a 

 long stick. 



• Magazine of Natural History, New Series, No. 14, page 92. 



