﻿230 VIPERIDJE 



in Bessarabia. Its range extends far into Central 

 Asia, being known from the Khirghiz steppes, the 

 Emba steppes, the steppes near the Alatau, on the 

 borders of the Urdshar, and in the Semipolatinsk 

 district. Around Sarepta it is common in the bare 

 steppe, and only exceptionally occurs in localities 

 overgrown with willows and small shrubs. 



Habits. — Nothing has been published concerning 

 the habits of this snake, except that it is more sensitive 

 to cold than V. berus and does not appear before the 

 middle of April, retiring to its winter-quarters in the 

 beginning of October. The food consists of small 

 mammals and lizards. 



Reproduction. — Pairs in May, and brings forth five 

 to seven young in August, these young at birth 

 measuring about 5i inches. 



x,^ 23. ViPERA BERUS, Linnseus 



The Northern Viper, or Adder 



Form. — Short and stout. Snout flat above, rarely 

 slightly concave, the upper contour broadly rounded 

 or truncate in front, the canthus well marked, some- 

 times slightly raised, the loreal region nearly vertical. 

 Eye as a rule smaller in females than in males, as 

 large or nearly as large as the nasal shield ; its 

 vertical diameter equals or a little exceeds its dis- 

 tance from the mouth. Length of tail five and a 

 half to nine times in total length in males, eight to 

 ten and three-quarter times in females. 



