382 SWEDISH VIPER. 



the colour is pale rufous grey, and along the 

 per parts are three longitudinal ranges of roundish 

 deep-rufous spots, bordered with black, and which 

 unite or become confluent towards the tail, in 

 such a manner as to exhibit the appearance of a 

 zigzag band, resembling in some degree that of 

 the common Viper : the under parts are of a dusky 

 colour, marbled with dull yellow: in the structure 

 of its fangs it resembles the Viper, and is said to 

 be equally poisonous. I must not omit to observe 

 that Mons. Latreille is not willing to allow this 

 serpent to be the real Coluber Aspis of Linnaeus. 



SWEDISH VIPER. 



Coluber Chersea. C. subferrugi/icus, titta dorsali atra Jtcxuosa, 



capite svbtus albido. 

 Subferruginous Viper, with black flexuous dorsal band, and 



head whitish beneath. 

 Coluber Chersea. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 377. 

 Abdominal scuta 150, subcaudal scales 34. 



THIS is said by Linnaeus to be extremely nearly 

 allied to the preceding, of which it might even be 

 supposed a variety, but is of smaller size, not 

 often exceeding the length of a span : it is said 

 to be most frequent in the province of Smoland, 

 where it is greatly dreaded by the inhabitants, 

 who consider its bite as mortal : its colour is a 

 dusky rufous brown, with a flexuous dorsal band 

 of a deeper colour, as in the common Viper : the 

 head is ovate, of a pale colour, and marked with 



