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Of the continents of the Old World, the poorest in poisonous snakes is Europe. The only species found there are a Cœlopeltis (belonging to the Sub-family Dipsadomorphinæ of the Opisthoglypha), and certain Viperinæ, which rarely exceed 75 centimetres in length.

Cœlopeltis, the cranial skeleton and head of which are represented in fig. 20, is characterised by a narrow, concave frontal shield, projecting supraciliaries, short snout, large eyes, with round pupils, two poison-fangs at the back of the upper maxillaries, and a cylindrical body. The scales of the back are finely grooved, and in the adult slightly concave.

Fig. 20.—Maxillary, Mandible, and Head of Cœlopeltis monspessulana.

The coloration, olivaceous-brown, or deep red on the back, becomes on the ventral surface pale yellow with brown streaks, and from five to seven longitudinal series of small spots, which are blackish and edged with yellow on the sides.

The mean total length is 1,800 millimetres. The tail is somewhat tapering, and about 350 millimetres long.

The only European species is Cœlopeltis monspessulana, which is met with pretty commonly in France, in the neighbourhood of Montpellier, and Nice, near Valencia in Spain, and in Dalmatia. It is likewise found throughout North Africa, and in Asia Minor.

A second species, Cœlopeltis moilensis, occurs in Southern Tunis, Egypt, and Arabia.

The European Viperinæ belong exclusively to the Genus Vipera, the principal zoological characters of which are as follows:—

Head distinct from the neck, covered with small scales, with or without frontal and parietal shields; eyes small, with vertically elongate pupils, separated from the labials by scales; nostrils lateral. Body cylindrical. Scales keel-shaped, with an apical pit, in from 19–31 rows; ventral scales rounded. Tail short; subcaudal scales in two rows.

The Genus Vipera is represented in Europe by several species, which are likewise found in Western Asia and North Africa.

These species are:—

V. ursinii, V. berus, V. aspis, V. latastii, and V. ammodytes. 1