VIPERA ATROPOIDES. 
long and rather narrow. Scales of the upper and lateral surfaces of the tail, 
as also those of its point, ovate, pointed, and strongly carinated ; plates of 
under surface smooth and in two rows. Abdominal plates 1 26 ; subcaudal 
plates fifteen in each row. Length of specimen described, from head to base 
of tail, 12^ inches; of tail, inch. 
The individual figured is the only specimen of the species I have yet seen, hence it must 
be regarded as a snake far from common in the districts of Southern Africa at present known. 
That in my possession was procured in the vicinity of a missionary institution about forty 
miles to the eastward of Cape Town, and was given to me by the zealous superintendent of the 
establishment. 
In many respects it resembles Vipera atropos, but the form and lesser size of its head, the 
position of its eyes, the character of its eyebrows, the absence of anything like a regular 
raised ring to the nostrils, and the relative position of these in reference to the eyes and nose, 
constitute conspicuous differences, 
