508 VIPERID. 
8. ATHERIS. 
Chloroechis, Bonap. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1849, p. 145.—No proper 
definition. 
Atheris, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1862, p. 337; Peters, Mon. Berl. 
Ac, 1864, p. 642; Strauch, Syn. fae p. 123 (1869). 
Peecilostolus, Giinth. Ann. § Mag. N. H. (3) xi. 1863, p. 25. 
Echis, part., Jan, Elenco sist. Ofid. p. 122 (1863). 
Head very distinct from neck, covered above with imbricate 
scales; eye large, with vertical pupil, usually separated from the 
labials by small scales ; nostrils lateral. Body slightly compressed ; 
scales keeled, with apical pits, laterals more or less oblique and 
smaller than dorsals and than outer row; ventrals rounded. Tail 
moderate, prehensile ; subcaudals single. 3 
The supratemporal is very short and the quadrate long and 
slender. 
Tropical Africa. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I. No horn-like supraciliary scales. 
9-11 scales across the crown, from eye 
to eye ; 25-36 scales across the middle 
Of the body. :....... sons en ccmeee eee 1. chlorechis, p. 508. 
7-8 scales across the crown; 15-25 
scales across the middle of the body.. 2. squamiger, p. 509. 
II. Several erect, horn-like supraciliary scales; 9-10 scales across 
the crown; 25 scales across the middle of the body. 
3. ceratophorus, p. 510. 
1, Atheris chlorechis. 
Vipera chloroechis, Schleg. Versl. Ak. Amst. iii. 1855, p. 317. 
Toxicoa chloroechis, Cope, Proc, Ac. Philad. 1859, p, 341. 
Ae ap (Echis) chloroechis, Jan, Rev. § Mag. Zool, 1859, p. 512. 
Echis chloroechis, Jan, Elenco, p. 122 (1863). 
Atheris polylepis, Peters, Mon. Berl, Ac. 1864, p. 642; Giinth. Zool. 
Ree, 1864, p. 125. 
— chloroechis, Peters, l. c. p. 645; Strauch, Syn. Viper. x 126 
(1869) ; F. Mill. Verh. Nat. Ges, Basel, vii. 1885, p. 696 ; Boettg 
Ber. Senck. Ges. 1888, p. 98. 
Rostral at least twice as broad as deep; head-scales strongly 
keeled, 9 to 11 across the crown from eye to eye; 15 to 17 scales 
round the eye ; one or two series of scales between the eye and the 
labials ; nasal entire or semidivided ; 9 to 12 upper labials ; two pairs 
of small chin-shields, the anterior in contact with the first or first and 
second lower labials; gular scales keeled. Scales strongly keeled, 
in 25-36 rows. Ventrals 154-165; anal entire; subcaudals 53- 
62. Green above, uniform or with small yellow spots; uniform 
yellowish or pale green beneath ; end of tail yellowish or blackish. 
Total length 520 millim. ; tail 85. 
West Africa, from Liberia to the Ogowe. 
