377 



AMERICAN BLACK VIPER. 



Coluber Cacodsemon. C. ateVj capite lato tumido, corport 

 crasso. 



Black Viper, with broad tumid head, and thick body. 

 Black Viper. Catesb. Carol. 2. pi. 44. 



This, according to Catesby, appears to be about 

 the size of the Common Viper, but of a much 

 thicker form, and entirely of a rusty black colour: 

 it is slow in its motions, and when irritated, 

 spreads its head, which is naturally large, into a 

 surprising width ; threatening, at the same time, 

 with a horrid hiss : the fangs are large, and the 

 animal is said to be as dangerous as the Rattle- 

 snake. It is a native of Carolina, chiefly fre- 

 quenting the higher grounds. 



EGYPTIAN VIPER. 



Coluber Vipera. C. subferrugineus, fusco maculatuSy subtus al- 



bidvSy Cauda brevi mucronata, 

 Subferruginous Viper, spotted with brown, beneath whitish^ 



with short mucronated tail. 

 Coluber Vipera. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 275, Hasselq. itin. p. 340, 

 Abdominal scuta 118, subcaudal scales 22. 



This, which is said to be the officinal Viper of 

 the Egyptians, seems to have been first accurately 

 described by Hasselquist, who informs us that it 

 is imported in considerable quantities every year 

 to Venice for the use of the apothecaries in the 



V. III. p. II. 25 



