338 On a new Pit- Viper from Brazil. 



XLIV. — Description of a new Pit-Viper from Brazil. 

 By G. A. boULENGER, F.R.S. 



Lachesis itapetiningce. 



Snout obtusely pointed, with strong, slightly raised canthus. 

 Hostral a little deeper than broad ; nasal divided ; ui>|)er 

 head-scales small, imbricate, strongly keeled ; supraocular 

 large, separated from its fellow by 7 to 9 longitudinal series 

 of scales; internasals large and in contact with each other; 

 a large canthal ; two or three postoculars and a subocular, 

 which is separated from the labials by one series of scales ; 

 loreal pit separated from the labials ; temporal scales keeled ; 

 8 upper labials, third and fourth largest. Scales strongly 

 keeled, in 25 rows. Ventrals 150-152; anal entire; sub- 

 caudals 28-29. Pale reddish brown above, with large 

 transversely oval or quadrangular dark light-edged spots 

 disposed in two alternating series, some of the spots of the 

 two sides meeting on the middle line of the back, otliers, on 

 the sides, broken up into two or more ; sides of snout 

 whitish ; a broad oblique dark band below the eye ; a trans- 

 versely oval dark spot on tlie upper surface of the snout, and 

 a wavy dark band, continuous or interrupted, on each side of 

 the top of the head from the interocular region to the nape ; 

 belly white, much speckled or blotched with brown, the white 

 of the lower parts sometimes sharply defined from the brown 

 of the upper, on the lower row of scales. 



Total length 400 mm. ; tail 55. 



Two specimens, females, from Itapetininga, a city in the 

 State of Sao Paulo. The British Museum is indebted for 

 these specimens to Dr. Vital Brasil, Director of the Serum- 

 therapic Institute of S. Paulo, who recognized them as 

 belonging to a distinct species, remarkable for its small size, 

 the above-described specimens being the largest obtained so 

 far. The name Lachesis itapetiningcB was suggested to me 

 by Dr. Vital Brasil. 



This Lachesis itapetiningce is nearly related to L. Neuwiedii, 

 Wagl., from which it is easily distinguished by its stouter 

 form, as expressed by the lower number of ventral and caudal 

 shields. 



Among other specimens of Lachesis from the State of 

 Sao Paulo 1 was pleased to examine one of the " Jararacucju," 

 a remarkable variety of L. lanceolatus growing to a length of 

 over 2 metres, the pattern of coloration of which has been 

 figured by Jan (Icon. Ophid. xlvii. pi. ii. fig. 3). It agrees 

 entirely in structure with the true " Fer-de-Lance," with 

 which it is completely connected by intermediate patterns of 

 coloration. 



