154 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE REPTILES 



2. ViPEEA LEBETJNA, Linnaeus, 1766. 

 V. brachyura, Schlegel. — Echidna mauritanica, Guichenot. 



Snout obtuse. Nostril between three shields ; rostral a little broader than deep ; a 

 narrow supraocular shield is present or absent ; upper surface of head covered with 

 small, imbricate, strongly keeled scales, 9 to 12 across the forehead, from eye to eye ; 

 three or four series of scales between the eye and the labials; 10 to 12 upper labials. 

 kScales in 23 to 27 rows. Pale grey-brown above, with darker spots or cross-bands, 

 which are very distinct in the young, but feebly marked or absent in the adults; 

 lower parts whitish, powdered with grey. 



Total length IJ metre. 



Inhabits North Africa and South-western Asia, and the Greek Island Milo, to 

 Northern Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and Cashmere. It is not uncommon near Oran ; 

 has been recorded from the interior of Morocco by Boettger ; M. Lataste saw specimens 

 from near Batna and Mt. Edough, Bona ', in the collection of M. Henon, and captured 

 others in Tunisia at El liammam des Beni-Zib, Djebel Domer, Taferma, and Tames- 

 mida, and received a specimen from Tadjera, near Mettamer, through Capt. Kebillot. 



Figured by Guichenot, Explor. Sc. Alg., Kept. pi. iii. 



3. ViPEEA AEiETANS, Merrem, 1820. 



Snout very short and broad. Nostrils large, directed upwards, pierced between three 

 shields ; rostral more than tv^'ice as broad as deep ; no supraocular shield ; upper 

 surface of head covered with small, imbricate, strongly keeled scales, 9 to 11 across the 

 forehead, from eye to eye ; three or four series of scales between the eye and the 

 labials; 12 to 15 upper labials. Scales in 29 to 31 rows. Yellowish or pale brown 

 above elegantly marked with large ^ -shaped, dark brown, black-edged spots ; a large 

 dark blotch covers the crown, separated from a smaller interorbital spot by a transverse 

 yellow line ; an oblique dark brown band below, and another behind the eye. 



Eeaches a length of 1220 millim. 



This large and deadly snake is found over the gieater part of Tropical and South 

 Africa. From West Africa it penetrates into Southern Morocco, a specimen from the 

 Valley of Sous having been recorded by Boettger. 



A good figure is given by Wagler, Icon. Amph. pi. xi. 



2. Ceeastes, Wagler, 1830. 



Upper surface of head covered with scales. Scales keeled, in 23 to 33 rows, the 

 laterals disposed obliquely. Subcaudals in two rows. 

 Two species in the Algerian and Tunisian Sahara. 



^ This locality, M. Lataste informs me, is somewhat doubtful. The Batna specimens are uniform greenish 

 afeove. 



