384 



GREEK VIPER. 



Coluber Lebetinus. C. griseus, serie quadruplici macularum 

 transxjersarum ; mtermediis Jlavescentibus, lateralibus nigrkan' 

 tibus. 



Grey Viper, with a quadruple series of transverse spots, the 



middle ones yellowish, the lateral dusky. 

 Coluber Lebetinus. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 278. 

 Abdominal scuta 155, subcaudal squamae 4^. 



This is a Viper of considerable size, measuring, 

 according to Forskal, near a cubit in length, and 

 being of a very thick form towards the middle : 

 the head is large, broad, depressed, and subcor- 

 date : the neck rather slender : the tail about four 

 inches long : the scales on the head small, and 

 those on the other parts larger, ovate-obtuse, flat, 

 and carinated : the back is deflected considerably 

 on each side : colour grey : with four series of al- 

 ternate transverse spots, those of the middle series 

 yellowish, and those of the lateral blackish: the 

 under parts pale or whitish, pretty thickly freckled 

 with dusky specks. This snake is a native of 

 Greece and the Grecian islands, as Cyprus, &c. 

 where it is called by the name of Knji (JL^(pyi), or 

 deaf snake. Its bite is said by Forskal to prove 

 fatal, producing insuperable somnolency. By the 

 more learned, in those regions, it is termed Aspis, 

 and Forskal supposes it to have been the Aspis of 

 the ancients. It is said to be often found in corn 

 fields during the harvest season, and is much 

 dreaded by the Grecian reapers. 



