ORDER OPHIDIA. 26l 



But the other subgenera, dismembered from that 

 of the adders, by various authors, appear to us not 

 capable of being continued. They are founded on 

 slight differences of the proportions of the head, 

 bulk of the trunk, &c. 



Even after all these separations, the adders con- 

 tinue to be the genus of serpents the most nume- 

 rous in species. 



There are many in France, as 



The Collared Adder. ( Coluber Natrix^ L.) Lac. II. 



vi. 2. 



Very common in meadows, and dormant waters ; 

 ash-coloured, with black spots along the sides, and 

 three white spots forming a collar on the nape. 

 The scales are carinated, or raised in ridges. It 

 lives on insects, frogs, &c. It is eaten in many 

 provinces. 



There is in Sicily a species greatly approximating 

 to this, but much larger, and with a black collar. 

 ( Col. SiculuSi Nob.) 



The Viperine Adder. ( Col. PlperinuSy Lath.) 



Brownish gray, a series of black spots forming a zig- 

 zag along tlie back, and anotlier of smaller eye-like 

 spots along the sides, colours which give it a re- 

 remblance to the viper ; the under part spotted, 



