496 TIPBEID^. 



"Vipera atropos, Latr. Rept. iii. p. 334 (1802) • Baud. Rept. vi. p. 210 



(1803) ; Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 581, pi. xxi. figs. 6 & 7 (1837) ; 



Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr., Sept. pi. Iii. (1846) ; Strauch, Syn. Viper. 



p. 98 (1869) ; Jan, Icon. Gin. 45, pl. iv. figs. 1 & 2 (1874). 



montana. Smith, Edinb. N. Philos. Journ. i. 1826, p. 252. 



Olotho atropos, Gray, Zool. Misceli. p. 69 (1842), and Cat. p. 26 



(1849). 

 Echidna ocellata, Tsehudi, Faun. Per., Herp. p. 60 (1845). 

 OalecUdna ocellata, Tsehudi, I. c. pl. ix. 

 Echidna atropoa, Ihim. ^ Bibr. vii, p. 1432 (1854). 

 Bitis atropos, Giinth. Cat. p. 268 (1858). 



Nostrils turned upwards and outwards. Eostral small, once and 

 two thirds to twice as broad as deep ; head covered with small, 

 imbricate, strongly keeled scales, 13 to 16 across the vertex from 

 eye to eye ; 13 to 16 scales round the eye ; two or three series of 

 scales between the eye and the labials ; two to five series of scales 

 between the supranasals ; two series of scales between the nasal and 

 the rostral ; 10-12 upper labials ; three or four lower labials in 

 contact with the chin-shields. Scales in 29-31 rows, all strongly 

 keeled. Ventrals 124-145 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 18-29. Brown 

 or grey-brown above, with four longitudinal series of large, dark 

 brown, black-and-white edged spots, formed by the breaking up into 

 two of two series of subcircular spots ; a continuous or interrupted 

 whitish streak running between and dividing the spots on each side 

 of the back, and another lower down on the sides ; two large dark 

 markings on the head, from the nape to between the eyes ; an 

 oblique, light, dark-edged streak from behind the eye to the mouth ; 

 belly grey or brown, spotted with darker. 



Total length 350 millim. ; taU 25. 



Cape of Good Hope. 



a. $ (Sc. 31 ; V. 137 ; Table Mt., near Cape H. A.. Spencer, Esq. 

 C. 22). Town. [P.]. 



b. $ (Sc. 31 ; V. 128 ; Cape of Good Hope. Dr. Lee fT.]. 

 0. 21). 



c. 2 (Sc. 29 ; V. 128 ; S. Africa. Sir H. Sloane [P.]. 

 C. 19). 



d. e. $ (Sc. 31 ; V. 131 ; S. Africa. 

 C. 18) & yg. (Sc. 29 ; 



V.130; C. 25). 



4. Bitis inornata. 



Echidna inornata. Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr., Hept. pl. iv. (1838). 



Vipera atropoides. Smith, op. cit. pl. liii. (1846). 



Clotho atropos, part.. Gray, Cat. p. 26 (1849). 



Olotho ? inornata, Gray, I. n. 



Vipera inornata, Strauch, Syn. Viper, p. 97 (1869). 



Intermediate between B. atropos and B. cornuta. Eye smaller 

 than in the former and separated from the labials by four series of 

 scales ; supraorbital region raised as in the latter, but without 

 erect, horn-like scales ; 15-17 scales across the head from eye to 

 eye ; 13 or 14 upper labials ; three lower labials in contact with 



