492 



YIPEEIDiE. 



4. BITIS. 



Cotra, Laur. 8yn. Eept. p. 103 (1768). 



Vipera, part., Merr. Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 149 (1820) ; iSchleff. Phys. 



Serp. ii. p. 573 (1837) ; Bum. | Bibr. Erp. O^n. vii. p. 1403 



(]854) ; Jan, Elenco sist. Ofld. p. 120 (1863) ; Strauch, Syn. Viper. 



p. 21 (1869). 

 Echidna {non Font.), part., Merr. I. c. p. 150 ; Bum. Sr Bibr. I. c. 



p. 1420 (1854). 

 Echidna, Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 177 (1830). 

 Cerasttis, part., Wayl. I. c. p. 178; Oray, Zool Miscell. p. 70 (1842); 



Bttm. ^ Bibr. i. c. p. 1438. 

 Clotho {non Favj.), Gray, I. c. p. 69, and Cat. Sn. p. 24 (1849). 

 Bitis, Gray, II. cc. pp. 69, 25 ; Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1866, p. 891, 



and Reise n. Mossamb. iii. p. 145 (1882). 

 Caleehidna, Tschudi, Faun. Per., Herp. p. 60 (1845). 



Head very distinct from neck, covered ■witt small imbrioato 

 scales ; eye moderate or rather small, with vertical pupil, separated 



Fig. 35. 



StuU of Biiis arietans. 



from the labials by small scales ; nostrils directed upwards or 

 upwards and outwards, pierced in a single or divided nasal, with a 



