68 



VIPEKID.E. 



are annually destroyed in that nciglibourliood, about one in 

 ten are of the present variety. 



The ground colour is a dull brick red, with the usual 

 markings of the Common Viper, of a ferruginous brown, or 

 mahogany colour. The marks on the head are very similar 

 in form; but the V mark is somewhat more divergent than 

 is usual in the common variety. The throat is white, tinged 

 with ferruginous red, and the belly is ferruginous grey, with 

 minute whitish dots, and a few larger dots of reddish brown. 

 The round spots on each side of the back are rather more 

 distinct, and somewhat smaller than in the common sort ; 

 there are also a few irregular reddish white spots along the 

 sides of the neck ; the upper lip is white, barred with brown. 

 The only striking peculiarity in its form is the greater pro- 

 portionate breadth of the head behind the eyes, which in this 

 si3ecimen is equal to the length of the gape. 



The plates of the abdomen are one hundred and fifty ; 

 those of the tail thirty- three pairs. The following are the 

 dimensions of the specimen here figured: — 



In. I.ines. 

 Total length . . , . . 10 



Length of the tail . . . . 11 



Length of the head . . . .05 



Breadth of the head . . . . 4 



A specimen has been particularly described by Mr. Strick- 

 land, in the sixth volume of Loudon''s Magazine of Natural 

 History, in the following words : — " Of a bright ferruginous 

 red, with zigzag markings down the back, resembling in form 

 those of the Common Viper ; but instead of being black, or 

 dark brown, they are of a deep mahogany colour; also a series 

 of irregular spots of the same colour along each side ; the 

 zigzag line terminates at the back of the head in a heart- 

 shaped spot, placed between two converging dark-coloured 

 bands, which meet on the top of the head, and again diverge 

 towards the eyes ; belly ferruginous like the back. " Mr. 



