VIPERINE GROUP. 



233 



Africa as well as in Europe. It is noteworthy that in the borderland of the 

 distributional areas of the two forms, such as Northern Spain and Italy, it is 

 difficult to say to which of the two any specimen may belong. 



More numerous in Scotland than the ringed snake, but, like it, unknown in 

 Ireland, the common viper generally frequents heaths, dry woods, and sandy banks. 

 Although its bite produces severe effects, it is seldom, unless the sufferer be very 

 young or in ill-health, that death ensues. During the winter months, vipers 

 generally hibernate in small parties for the sake of mutual warmth, several being 

 often found twined together in a torpid condition. 



LONG-NOSED, OR SAND-VIPER (\ nat. size). 



Long-Nosed Another well-known poisonous European snake is the long- 



Viper, nosed, or sand- viper (V. ammodytes), easily recognised by the 

 presence of a soft horny appendage at the end of the nose, covered with scales, 

 and not unlike a conical wart in appearance. It is also distinguished from the 

 common viper by the absence of any large shield, except the supraoculars, on the 

 top of the head ; although in coloration the two species are very similar. In size 

 it is the largest European representative of the group, attaining a length in some 

 rare instances of just over a yard. The sand- viper ranges from Italy to Armenia. 

 In Carinthia it is the commonest of snakes, while in the Tyrol it is local, but 

 abundant in the south of Hungary and Dalmatia. Mainly nocturnal, it is much 

 more commonly found in hilly than in level districts, ascending in the mountains 



