COMMON VIPER. 61 
SQUAMATA. 
(OPHIDIA.) VIPERADA. 
Genus, Pelias. . Merr. 
Generic Character.—Head depressed, oblong-ovate, somewhat compressed hbe- 
fore, and wider behind the eyes; vertex covered with scuta; no pit between the 
nostrils and eyes; tail with double plates beneath. 
COMMON VIPER. 
ADDER. 
Pelias Berus. 
Specific Character.—Brown, with a series of confluent rhomboidal black spots 
along the back. 
