256 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of variability there is so much individual variation that it has 

 been said that no two of this species can be found coloured alike. 



The upper surfaces of Baden specimens rarely exhibit any 

 decided lines or vertical markings, being usually of uniform 

 shades varying between iron-grey and dark brown, sometimes 

 with a rich coppery iridescence. Lower surfaces grey or of a 

 reddish hue,— throat sometimes almost white, — and the black 

 colouring of these parts, characteristic of the young, is here 

 almost entirely confined to the females, and is of comparatively 

 rare occurrence. This sex is also more inclined to retain the 

 immature black dorsal stripe, which remains most pronounced, 

 as we should expect, in the anterior portions of the animal. 

 I obtained two specimens of a pretty variety near the Donners- 

 berg, in the Northern Palatinate: back of a uniform stone- 

 colour, sides pink coral, down the centre of under surfaces a thin 

 black stripe. In the Alps, both black and bluish coloration of 

 the lower parts is much more frequent, though I have never seen 

 the var. cceruleoventris — of a "light sky-blue colour" — described 

 by Mr. Geisenheyner.* With specimens in alcohol this effect is 

 often produced by the black pigment shining through the opaque 

 medium of the loosened epidermis. 



The cyanopunctata form, mentioned by the same author, 

 occurs also in Baden, but not, apparently, in such abundance as 

 at Kreuznach, and in all the specimens I have examined 

 the characteristic blue spots are not, as elsewhere, continued 

 along the sides and lower parts. They are indiscriminately 

 scattered over the back, perhaps more thickly towards the head, 

 each occupying half a scale or less. This peculiarity seems 

 hereabouts to be confined to adults, and Mr. Haendel, who has 

 paid special attention to this point, tells me that the majority 

 are of female sex. The origin of this coloration appears at 

 present obscure, but it is certain that it cannot be due to any 

 external cause, abrasion, &c, as the blue spots not rarely form 

 longitudinal lines along the surface of the back. 



Order III. Ophidia. — Fam. I. ViperidjE. 



1. Vipera berus, L. — The Smooth Snake, Coronella Icevis, is 

 responsible for many of the reports of the frequency of Adders 



Wirbeltierfauna von Kreuznach,' 1888. 





