66 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA! 



Sublinguals touch 4 or 5 infralabials and 2 scales behind. Infralahials. — 

 5 large normally, the 5th touching 2 scales behind. Scales in middle 

 of body 23 to 27. Ventrah not ridged laterally. Suhcaudals divided. 



Pistribution. — An inhabitant of Northern Africa and South-Eastern 

 Europe, it extends through Asia Minor eastwards so as to include 

 Baluchistan and Kashmir on the fringe of its distribution. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 5 feet. 



Colour. — Grey ov pale brown above, with a dorsal series of large 

 brown spots, often edged with blackish wiiich may be confluent into an 

 undulous band, or with small dark spots or eross-bars, small dark lateral 

 spots, and vertical bars ; a large V-shaped marking on the upper 

 surface of the head, and a V-shaped one on the occiput, may be pre- 

 sent ; a dark streak behind the eye to the angle of the mouth ; and 

 usually a dark blotch or bar below the eye ; whitish beneath, powdered 

 with grey-brown, with or without dark brown spots ; end of tail 

 yellow. All the markings sometimes very indistinct (Boulenger). 

 FSBTJDOCEEASTES FEESICTTS*— The Fersian Sorned Viper. 



Ulentification. — Most easily recognised by the horn over the eye. 



Fi(i. 41. — I'seuciocerastes persicus (nat. size), from a specimen in the 

 Indian Mnseum. The profile view may not show tbe detail 

 of the scales accurately as the apecimen is damaged. 



* This snake, previonsly only known from Persia, has been recorded by Dr. Annaadale 

 from Koh Malik, Snjah, Baluchistan (Jourul., Asiat. Soc, Bengal, Vol. LXXIII, p. 211) 

 and thus occurs within our Hritish Indian limits. 



