NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION. 217 



Supraocular region usually with horn-like scales ; 

 sub-caudals, in females, small and scale-like, 

 more or less distinctly keeled. Two or more 

 supraorbital horns . . . . . . . . . . Bitis cornuta. 



Supraorbital region with only one horn-like erect scale. 



Sometimes it is not present . . . . . . Bitis caudalis. 



1. Bitis ariet.\ns. Puff Adder ; Pof Adder. 



Synonyms — Vipera arietans ; Cobra lachesis ; Clotko arietans ; Echidna 

 arietans. 



Colour — -Yellow, pale brown, or orange above, marked with regular 

 chevron-shaped dark brown or black bars pointing backwards, 

 or black with orange or yellow markings ; a large dark blotch 

 covering the crown, separated from a smaller interorbital blotch 

 by a transverse yellow line ; an oblique dark band below, and 

 another behind the eye ; yellowish white beneath, uniform, or 

 with small dark spots. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet. Attains a length of 5 feet. 



Distribution — All parts of South Africa. Northwards through Tropical 

 Africa to Arabia. 



2. Bitis peringueyi. Peringuey's Adder. 

 Synonym — Vipera peringueyi. 



Colour — Pale buff or greenish olive above, with three longitudinal 

 series of grey or blackish spots, the outer ocellar, enclosing a 

 white centre ; head sometimes with a trident-shaped dark 

 marking on the crown, followed by a cross and two large markings 

 on the occiput ; whitish beneath, with small dark spots. 



Average length — i foot. 



Distribution — -Kalahari ; South- West Africa ; Angola. 



3. Bitis atropos. Berg Adder. 



Synonyms — Coluber atropos ; Cobra atropos ; Vipera atropos ; Clotho 

 atropos : Echidna atropos. 



Colour — -Brown or greyish brown above, with four longitudinal series 

 of large dark brown, black and white edged spots, formed by 

 the breaking up into two of the two series of sub-circular spots ; 

 a continuous or interrupted whitish streak running between, 

 and dividing the spots on each side of the back, and another 

 lower down on the sides ; two large dark markings on the head, 

 from the nape to between the eyes ; an oblique, light, dark- 

 edged streak from behind the eye to the mouth ; belly grey or 

 brown, spotted with darker. 



Average length — i foot 6 inches. 



Distribution— Both provinces of Cape Colony ; Basutoland ; Griqua- 

 land ; Orange Free State ; Natal ; Zululand ; Transvaal. 



4. Bitis inornata. The Cape Puff Adder ; Kaap Pof Adder. 



Synonyms — Echidna inornata ; Vipera atropoides ; Vipera inornata. 

 Colour — Variable. 



A. Dark yellowish-brown above, with faint traces of darker markings, 



brownish-yellow beneath, with a few dark dots ; head marbled 

 with dark brown. 



B. Brown above, with two dorsal series of dark brown, black-edged 



spots. 



C. Reddish brown above, marked as in Bitis cornuta. 

 Average length — 18 inches. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony. (Very uncommon.) 



