472 vipbeidjE. 



shield. Body cylindrica] ; scales keeled, with apical pits, in 19-31 

 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail short ; subcaudals in two rows. 

 Europe, Asia, North and Tropical Africa. 



Synopsis of the Sjoecies. 



I. Supraocular shield large, bordering the eye ; scales on crown 

 and snout smooth or faintly keeled; nostril in a single or 

 irregnilarly divided nasal, which is separated from the rostral 

 by a naso-rostral ; scales in 19-23 rows (very rarely 25) ; 

 ventrals 120-169. 



A. Snout not turned up at the end ; supraocular usually extending 



posteriorly beyond the vertical of the posterior border of the 

 eye ; frontal and parietal shields usually well developed ; 

 usually a single series between the eye and the labials, 

 rarely two. 



Snout obtusely pointed, flat above, or 



with the canthus slightly raised ; 



rostral usually in contact with a 



single apical scale, rarely with two ; 



6 to 9 upper labials, usually 7 or 8 ; 



scales in 19 rows, rarely 21 ; ventrals : 



(? 120-135, 2 125-142 1. ursinii, p. 473. 



Snout pointed, with raised canthus ; 



rostral in contact with a single apical 



scale ; 8 or 9 upper labials ; scales 



in 21 rows, rarely 19 ; ventrals : c? 



130-148, 2 130-150 2. renardi, p. 475. 



Snout truncate or broadly rounded, flat 



above or with very slightly raised 



canthus ; rostral in contact with two 



apical scales, rarely with one ; scales 



in 21 rows, rarely 19 or 23 ; ventrals : 



S 132-150, S 132-158 3. berus, p. 476. 



B. Snout usually more or less turned up at the end or produced 



in a scaly dermal appendage ; supraocular not extending 

 posteriorly beyond the vertical of the posterior border of 

 the eye ; crown usually covered with small scales, frontal 

 and parietals, however, sometimes well developed ; two or 

 three series of scales between the eye and the labials ; 9 to 

 13 upper labials ; scales in 21-23 rows, rarely 19 or 25. 



Snout simply turned up, the raised por- 

 tion bearing two or three (apical) 

 scales ; rostral not more than once 

 and a half as deep as broad ; ventrals : 

 <J 134-158, 2 14-1^169 4. aspis, p. 481. 



