60 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ON THE VAEIATIONS OF THE VIPEE (VIP ERA BERUS) 



IN DENMAEK. 

 By Gr. A. Boulengee, F.E.S. 



Mr. G. F. L. Sarauw, of Copenhagen, has most kindly fur- 

 nished me with an extensive series of Vipers collected in various 

 parts of Denmark, mostly during the past year. Owing to the 

 interest attached to individual variations in this difficult group of 

 Snakes, and to the importance of establishing the characters by 

 which Vipera berus is to be distinguished from its nearest allies, 

 V. ursinii, V. renardi, and V. aspis, it may be useful to record 

 the results of my examination, and to compare the range of 

 variation in this limited area with that ascertained in Great 

 Britain, as reported in this Journal three years ago (1892, 

 pp. 87—93). 



The specimens sent me by Mr. Sarauw are from the following 

 localities : — 



1. Near Copenhagen, N. Seeland (1 spec). 



2. Knudskov, W. of Vordingbor, S. Seeland (18 specs.). 



3. Skaarup, E. of Svendborg, S. Fyen (1 spec). 



4. Glamsbjerg, E. of Assens, S.W. Fyen (7 specs). 



5. Bonnelykke, Longelsi Sogn, Langeland (1 spec). 



6. Near Aalborg, N. Jutland (1 spec). 



7. Hogholt, E. of Hjorring, N. Jutland (1 spec). 



8. Near Viborg, C. Jutland (14 specs.). 



9. Trust, near Rodksersbro, C. Jutland (1 spec). 



10. Arsing, S.W. of Herving, C. Jutland (1 spec). 



11. Skarrild, S.W. of Herving, C. Jutland (2 specs.). 



To these I am able to add four more, from Seeland, pre- 

 viously received from Prof. Liitken. My notes are therefore 

 based on 52 specimens. 



1. Shape of Snout. — The snout is perfectly fiat above in all 

 specimens but one. In this (from Glamsbjerg, a ? ) the canthus 

 rostralis is somewhat raised, the snout consequently concave 

 above. 



2. Scaling of Head. — In 48 specimens the frontal and parietal 

 shields are well developed ; in 4 (Seeland, ? , Knudskov, S 2 , 

 Viborg, $ ) the parietals are very small, or broken up into scales. 

 The frontal is as long as broad, or a little (not more than one- 



