92 



OPHIDIAN EEPTILES. 



turning round to one side or the other with astonishing rapidity, 

 but never jumping at its enemy or throwing itself backward, as 

 the Puff-adders are described to do. The Death-adder is found 

 in almost every part of Australia northward of the thirty-sixth 

 parallel of south latitude.] 



The Common Adder (Pel MS hem), is not improbably the Ex<; 

 of Aristotle, and the Vipera of Yirgil, as it is the Manasso of the 

 Italians, the Adder of the country-people in England and Scotland, 

 and the Yipere of France. It is found in all these countries, and 

 in Europe generally. 



The Common Adder varies in length, from thirteen or fourteen 



Fi'_'. I'o. — The Ci.inimi;iii Adder [Pelias birub). 



inches to double that length ; and from two to three or even four 

 inches in girth. 



Its general colour varies considerably : in some it is olive, in 

 others reddish-brown, varyiii"- sometimes to an ashy-grey ; at 

 other times it is greyish-black. A waving brown or blackish line 

 runs along the back. A row of unocpial spots of the same colour 

 is observable on tlie flanks : the belly is slate-coloured ; the head 

 nearly triangular, a little larger than the neck, obtuse and trun- 

 cated in front, and covered with granulated scales. Six small 

 plates cover the muzzle, two of which are perforated for the 

 nostrils, which are lateral, forming a blackish spot. Above is a 

 sort of V shape, formed b\' two black bands. The upper jaw is a 



