62 



THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



VIPERA LEBETINA-The Levantine Viper. 



Identification — The sublinguals toucMng 4 or 5 infralabials ; the 

 subcaudals divided ; and the absence of the large lateral spots on 

 the sides so typical of the last when occurring together, will suffice 

 to identify this from the rest of the group. 



Fig. 40. — Vipera lebetina Cnat. size). 

 Supplementary cliaracters. — Supraocula/r well developed or broken 

 up into small shields. Nasal touches the rostral and the 1st sup- 

 ralabial. Eye. — Diameter about equals its distance to the nostril, 

 about half its distance from the labial margin ; 2 or 3 rows of 

 scales between it and the supralabials. ith supralahial the largest 

 of the series. Sublinguals touch 4 or 5 infralabials and 2 scales 

 behind. Infralabials. — 5 large normally, the 5th touching 2 scales 



