Mr. E. D. Cope on a new Species of Vipera. 18] 
On a SPECIES OF VIPERA HITHERTO UNKNOWN. 
By E. D. Core. 
VIPERA CONFLUENTA, Sp. nov. 
Head much longer than broad, covered with small scales, which 
are more or less keeled as far anterior as the postfrontal region. 
Superciliaries little developed, once or many times divided. Scales 
of the upper surface of the muzzle larger; a well-developed supra- 
nasal. Prenasal large, erect, undivided; postnasal developed in 
front of, and narrowly superior to, the nostril. Three rows of scales 
between the orbits and the superior labials. The latter are eleven in 
number, the fourth longest, the first in contact with the prenasal. 
Rostral higher than broad. Inferior labials fourteen, fifth largest. 
Scales of the body in 25 rows, all keeled, never spiniferous. Gastro- 
steges 180; urosteges 48. Length from muzzle to rictus 14 inch, 
from muzzle to vent 303 inches, from vent to end of tail 42 inches. 
General ground-colour brownish yellow; belly paler. A broad 
undulating brown band, resembling a confluence of alternate rounded 
spots, extends from the nape to the end of the tail. A dark brown 
lateral streak, which is interrupted at regular intervals, extends 
throughout the greater part of the length. Labial regions yellowish; 
a brown band from orbit to angle of mouth; a brown spot below 
orbit. 
The habitat of this species is not known, but is probably Africa. 
Its nearest ally is the V. Libitina, with which it forms a section of 
the genus characterized by a superciliary plate more or less subdi- 
vided, and leading off to Echidna. In the writer’s opinion, the genus 
Vipera is to be separated from Echidna by its large prenasal plate, 
and postnasal slightly developed above the nostril, which is always 
