| OCR Text |
Show 1893.J LITTLE-KNOWN E U R O P E A N VIPER. 597 Vipera berus, part., Camerano, Mon. Ofid. Vip. I tab, Mem. Ace Tor. (2) xxxix. 1888, p. 35, pi. i. figs. 16-18. Vipera berus, var. rakosiensis, Mehely, Zool. Ariz. 1893, p. 190. Eye very small, its horizontal diameter not exceeding its distance from the nostril, its vertical diameter not exceeding its distance from the oral margin. The shape of the head, which is smaller in proportion than in V. berus, is remarkable for the somewhat pointed snout with its very obtuse, although sometimes slightly raised, canthus. The sincipital shields are constantly well developed, the frontal being longer than usual in V. berus, its length considerably exceeding its width, at least equalling its distance from the rostral, and usually exceeding the length of the parietals; the frontal is usually separated from the supraocular by a narrow shield or a series of small shields ; rostral as broad as deep, or slightly deeper than broad, its tip in contact with a single small (apical) shield, very rarely with two; two canthal shields ; upper praeocular usually in contact with the nasal; a single series of scales between the eye and the upper labials; six to nine upper labials, usually seven or eight, third, fourth, third and fourth, or fourth and fifth below the eye; usually only one labial, third or fourth, below the eye; six to ten scales round the eye, usually eight or nine. Scales in 19 rows, exceptionally 21 (21, exceptionally 19 or 23, in V. berus), the dorsals narrower aud more strongly keeled than in V. berus; outer row perfectly smooth. Ventrals 120 to 135 in males, 125 to 142 in females. On 70 specimens of V. berus I find 137 to 148 ventrals in males, 135 to 155 in females. Subcaudals 30 to 37 in males, 23 to 28 in females. In V. berus I find 33 to 41 shields in males, 26 to 35 in females. Length of tail 7 to 8 times in the total length in males, 9g to 11 times in females. The following are the measurements, in millimetres, and records of the numbers of scales and shields in 40 specimens from Laxenburg:- Sex. r? ,, " • ' • Total Length. 420 400 370 370 350 350 330 320 295 255 240 220 Length of Tail. 55 so 00 48 45 45 45 40 4:3 37 35 30 Scales. 19 19 19 21 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 Ventrals. 135 130 129 129 129 120 134 131 132 132 132 \% Caudals. 31 33 33 32 32 33 30 30 34 36 37 3(5 PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1893, No. XL. |
