VIPEBA. 419 



oculars ; two subequal postoculars ; two large superposed anterior 

 temporals, the upper alone in contact with the postoculars ; 6 upper 

 labials, third entering the orbit, first and second smallest, fourth and 

 fifth largest ; 7 lower labials, first large and forming a long suture 



Fig. 122. Head of Azemiops fea. Upper and lower view. 



with its fellow, second small ; a pair of short chin-shields. Dorsal 

 scales equal, smooth, in 17 longitudinal series. Ventrals 180 ; 

 anal single ; subcaudals 42. Blackish above, the scales being dark 

 grey in the centre and black on the borders, with 15 transverse 

 white bands, one scale wide, some of which are disconnected in 

 the middle and alternate with those on the other side ; upper 

 surface of head, from the prsefrontals, black, with a yellow median 

 line, which is very narrow anteriorly and widens posteriorly, 

 ending on the neck on the eleventh transverse series of scales ; 

 end of snout and sides of head yellow ; a blackish streak from 

 below the eye to the lower horder of the fourth upper labial ; 

 another from the postoculars to the upper border of the sixth 

 labial. Lower parts olive-grey, with some small lighter spots ; 

 chin and throat variegated with yellow. 



Total length 2 feet ; tail 3-5 inches. 



Hob. Kakhyen Hills, Upper Burma. A single specimen is 

 known. 



Genus VIPERA, 

 Laurenti, Syn. Kept. p. 99, 1768. 



Upper surface of head covered with scales or small shields. 

 Scales keeled, in 21 to 38 straight longitudinal rows. Subcaudals 

 in two rows. 



Distribution. This genus, which comprises about 20 species, ranges 

 over the whole of Africa (but not Madagascar), Europe, Northern, 

 Central, and South-Western Asia, and is represented in India by a 

 single species ; a second species reaches the eastern limit of its 

 distribution in Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. 



2E2 



