92 = OPHIDIANS. 
Second Species—VIPERA Ecuis, has the following varieties : 
No. 1. Carinata. 
2. Striata. 
3. Variegata. 
Vipera Echis Carinata.—The only species known in India. 
Pseudoboa Carinata, Schneider, Echis Carinata, Merr., tent. 
Called Afaé in Delhi, also Horatta Pam, Russell. In Sind it 
is called Kuppur, where it is said to be the most deadly va- 
riety found. 
Other varieties are found in South America; they seldom 
exceed 24’ in length, but are generally from 17’’ to 20’. It 
is viviparous, very fierce and aggressive, always ready to at- 
tack ; springs three or four yards to bite; has long fangs. 
Head covered with keeled scales; a pair of very small frontals behind 
the rostral; nostrils small, round, in a large nasal, subdivided behind 
the nostrils; sides of the head covered with keeled scales, two series of 
which are between the eye and the low upper labials. Scales much im- 
bricated, in from 25 to 29 rows, strongly keeled, and those in the lateral 
series have their tips directed obliquely downwards. Scuta brown or 
brownish-gray, with a series of subquadrangular or ovate spots, whitish, 
edged with blackish-brown ; a subsemicircular whitish band on each side 
of each of the dorsal spots, inclosing a round dark-brown lateral spot; 
a pair of oblong brown black-edged spots on the crown of the head con- 
verge forward; a brown spot below, and an oblique broad streak behind 
the eye. Belly whitish, and more or less numerous round brown specks. 
Abdominal scuta 149 to 154, subcaudal squame 21 to 26. 
No. 2. Vipera Echis Striata (has two sub-varieties) is a 
South American variety, and only differs from the preceding 
in the colors of the skin, it being marked by longitudinal 
streaks of darker and lighter color from neck to tail. It has 
no fangs. 
Body not thick; length from 25 to 75 centimetres. Dorsum covered 
with 26 to 80 rows of semi-oval lanceolate scales. 
It coils itself up in the shape of a figure 8 when preparing 
