ECHIDNA INORNATA. 
This snake was killed in the Sneeubergen, or Snow-mountains, which are 
situated immediately behind the village of Graaff Reynet, and was presented 
to the expedition party by J. Lieb, Esq., the government surveyor of the 
district. 
Little is known of the habits of this Snake, save that, like the other species of the genus, it 
is indolent, and heedless of the approach of man. 
In addition to the species here figured, we shall, during the progress of these illustrations, 
have occasion to furnish repret 'Stations of two others — the one Vipera ocellata, Smith,* (not 
Latreille), the other yet undescribed. The former has a projecting cylindrical scale, from a line 
to a line and a half in length upon each eye-brow, and is readily to be distinguished from 
Vipera cornuta, Daud, by having the under surface of the tail, whatever may be the age of the 
specimen, covered with scales nearly similar in form to those on the remaining portion, and 
faintly carinated. The latter, Vipera atropoides, exhibits a manifest resemblance to Vipera 
atropos, Daud, having, like it, two rows of black spots along the middle of the back, and 
some irregularly coloured variegations on the sides. It differs, however, in many material 
points, more particularly as regards the form and proportions of the head, and the arrangement 
of the scales, especially around and near the eyes. 
Taking these into consideration, we will in future have to record six species of the genus 
Vipera as inhabitants of South Africa, viz., Vipera arietans, Merr. ; V. atropos, Latr. ; 
V. cornuta, Daud ; V. inornata. Smith ; V. ocellata, Smith ; V. atropoides, Smith : or if we 
adopt the subdivisions proposed by Merrem and Wagler, which, in the present state of the 
science, may probably be employed with advantage, these species will stand : — Echidna 
arietans, — E. atropos, — E. inornata, — E. atropoides , — Cerastes cornutus, and C. ocellatus. 
The vipers, and one or two species of Elaps, are the only snakes of South Africa which 
permit themselves generally to be closely approached without evincing any apparent con- 
cern ; the others either manifest a disposition to act on the offensive, or to fly ; even an 
unusual noise, without its cause being visible, is sufficient to ensure the retreat of the innocuous 
ones. The different species of Naia and the Elaps lubricus, Merr., but particularly the 
former, are always ready for the fight, and when their haunts are invaded, they often advance 
upon the intruder with the head and anterior part of the body almost perpendicular, the neck 
expanded, and an expression sufficiently indicative of the malignant purpose they have in view. 
To witness such a proceeding, once fell to my own lot. Walking in the vicinity of Graham’s 
Town, I happened to excite the attention of a Naia Haemacliates, which immediately raised its 
head, and warned me of my danger by the strength of its expiration ; it then commenced an 
advance, and had I not retired, I should, in all probability, have suffered, provided I had not 
been fortunate enough to disable it, which possibly would not have happened, consider- 
ing that the species, in commonwith others of the genus, is extremely active. Even though 
I retired, I was not satisfied the danger was past, as the flight of this snake’s enemy does 
not always put a stop to its advance, when once commenced. An officer of the Cape corps, 
upon whose accuracy the most implicit reliance was to be placed, informed me that he once 
was chased twice round his waggon by an individual of the same species, and the pursuit might 
have been prolonged had not a Hottentot disabled the enraged reptile by a blow from a 
long stick. 
* Magazine of Natural History, New Series, No. 14, page 92. 
