262 CLASS XV. 



Faun., Ampkib. Heft 3, Bell Brit. Rept. p. 61, Cuv. R. Ani., cd. ill., 

 Rept. PI. 3r, fig. 2, Van Lier Verhandel. over de slangen en adders van het 

 la-iidschap Drentlie, Amsterdam, 1781, 4to, PI. 11. bl. 84 and foil. ; adder, 

 viper, Vipere commune. Natter &c. In many countries of Europe, in Sweden, 

 Russia, Gennany, England, north of France, Lombardy, &c. The number 

 of unpaired abdominal scutes is about 140, and of the caudal scutes there 

 are 40 — 43 pairs. The bite of this species is but seldom fatal to man, and 

 Van Liee states that, after all his inquuies, he has not been able to find 

 a single example in the district Drenthe of death having followed the bite 

 of a viper. Bell gives the same as the result of his investigations in 

 England ; the viper of the south of Europe, recorded above, Vipera aspis, 

 appears to be more dangerous. Vipera pr ester, Coluher piresterlj. is generally 

 considered to be a variety of Vipera her us; it is quite black; it is the 

 Coluber Vipera anglorum Laurenti 1. 1. Tab. iv. fig. i ; Steenstrup regards 

 it as a distinct species ; Krceyer's Tidshrift, 11. 1839, pp. 544, 545. 



Echis Merr., Dum. and Bibr., Scytale Daud. Subcaudal scutes 

 unpaired. Head scaly. 



Sp. Vipera echis Schleg., Scytale hizonatus Daud., Echis carinata Merr. 

 (Vipera pyramidum, Descr. de I'Egypte), Echis p)avo Reuss, Daud. ^e^)<. v. 

 PI. 70, fig. T, copied from Russell; — Echis frenata Dum. and Bibr., 

 Echis arenicola and Echis varia Reuss, Mus. Senkenb. i. Tab. vii. fig. 2 ; 

 species from North Africa and the continent of the East Indies. 



Acanthoiohis Daud., Wagl., Ophryas Merr. Tail with several 

 unpaired scutes below, towards the extremity covered with scales, 

 with apex aculeate. Head scutate; superciliary scute erect, pro- 

 minent. 



Sp. Vipera palpehrosa nob., Acanfhophis cerastinus Daud., Dum. and Bibr., 

 Ophryas AcantJiophis Merr., Merrem Bictrdge, 11. Tab. 3, Guerin /coMo^rr., 

 Rept. PI. -24, fig. 1; in New Holland. 



Family VI. Elapina. Upper jaw with a large grooved tooth 

 and some other smaller and solid placed behind it. Head scutate, 

 differing in breadth from the trunk slightly or not at all. Tail 

 round, short, often conical or fusiform. 



Sepedon MtD-rem (Species of Naja BoiE, ScHLEG.). Teeth in 

 upper jaw none except the poison-tooth. Head short, coni- 

 cal. Loral scute none\ Scales carinate. Tail below covered with 

 paired scutes. 



^ For the explanation of the terminology of the scutes of the head employed by 

 Merrem, and of which we here and elsewhere make use, see PI. xx. figs. 5, 6, 7, of 

 this volume. 



