AND BATEACUIANS OF BARBART. 153 



Fam. 3. VIPERIDiE. 



The Vipers of Barbary belong to three genera : — 



Lateral series of scales running in straight longitudinal lines ; subcaudals in two 



rows 1. ViPERA. 



Lateral scales disposed obliquely ; subcaudals in two rows 3. Cerastes. 



Lateral scales disposed obliquely ; subcaudals in a single row 3. Echis. 



1. ViPERA, Laurenti, 1768. 



Upper surface of head covered with scales or small shields. Scales keeled, in 21 to 

 38 straight longitudinal rows. Subcaudals in two rows. 



The three species found in Barbary may be distinguished as follows :— 



A. Nostrils lateral. 



Scales in 21 rows ; end of snout turned up 1. latastii. 



Scales in 23 to 27 rows ; snout blunt 2. lebetina. 



B. Nostrils directed upwaixis ; scales in 29 to 31 rows 3. arietans. 



1. ViPERA LATASTII, Bosca, 1878. 

 V. aspis, Strauch. 



Snout turned up, terminating in a low erect appendage ; rostral twice as deep 

 as broad ; a large supraocular shield, separated from its fellow by five to eight longi- 

 tudinal series of smooth scales ; two or three series of scales between the eye and the 

 labials; 9 to 11 upper labials. Scales in 21 rows. Pale brown above, with a zigzag 

 or scalloped dark brown band and a lateral series of dark brown spots ; a dark band 

 from the eye to the neck ; lower parts blackish, dotted or spotted with white or grey, 

 spotted black and white. 



Total length 580 millim., tail 60. 



This species, first described from Spain and Portugal, where it had long been con- 

 founded with the more oi-iental F. ammodytes, is of particular interest as forming a 

 complete passage between the latter species and V. aspis ; in fact, the lesser development 

 of the rostral appendage as compared with F. ammodytes, and the greater development of 

 the same as compared with F. aspis, are the only characters which distinguish V. latastii 

 from its two allies. 



It was first recorded in Barbary from Guyotville, near Algiers, under the name of 

 F. aspis, by Strauch, and it has since been found on Mt. Edough, near Bona, by 

 Dr. Hagenmiiller and M. Lataste. Dr. Kobelt collected two specimens near Tangier, 

 ■which have been described by Boettger. 



Figured by Bosca, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1878, pi. iv. 



