510 VIPERID&. 
This species is nearly completely connected with the preceding, 
and may ultimately have to be united with it. 
3. Atheris ceratophorus. 
Atheris ceratophora, Werner, Verh, zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xlv. 1895, 
p- 194, pl. v. fig. 1. 
Rostral twice and a half as broad as deep; head-scales strongly 
keeled, 9 or 10 across the interorbital region; three erect, horn-like, 
supraciliary scales, the longest as long as the eye; 16 or 17 scales 
round the eye; two series of scales between the eye and the labials ; 
nostril between two nasals; 10 or 11 upper labials; a pair of chin- 
shields in contact with four lower labials on each side ; gular scales 
keeled. Scales strongly keeled, in 25 rows. Ventrals 142; anal 
entire; subcaudals 55. Dark olive above, with black spots forming 
more or less regular cross-bands ; pale olive beneath, speckled with 
black. 
Total length 210 millim.; tail 65. 
East Africa. 
a. Q (V. 142; C. 55). Usambara. Dr. F. Werner. (‘Type.) 
9, ATRACTASPIS. 
Atractaspis, Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr., Rept. (1849); Dum. §& Bibr. 
Erp. Gén, vii. p. 1803 (1854) ; Giinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 239 (1858) ; 
Jan, Rev. §& Mag. Zool. 1858, p. 518; Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad, 
1859, p. 342; Peters, Reise n. Mossamb. iii. p. 141 (1882). 
Brachycranion, Hallow. Proc. Ac. Philad. 1 . 99; Cope, 1. ¢. 
Eurystephus, Cope, Proc, Ac. Philad. 1862, p. 837. 
Clothelaps, Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos, Soc. xviii. 1895, p. 211. 
Poison-fangs enormously developed ; a few teeth on the palatines, 
none on the pterygoids; mandible edentulous in front, with two or 
three very small teeth in the middle of the dentary bone. Head 
small, not distinct from neck, covered with large symmetrical 
shields; nostril between two nasals; no loreal; eye minute, with 
round pupil. Postfrontal bone absent. Body cylindrical; scales 
smooth, without pits, in 17 to 37 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail 
short ; subcaudals single or in two rows. 
Tropical and South Africa. 
This genus is remarkable as presenting the most extreme speciali- 
zation in the Viperine direction, the poison-fangs being as large in 
proportion as in any other form and the solid teeth on the palate 
and mandible, which are much reduced in number in many of the 
Crotalines, having almost disappeared. 
wa 
