Mr. E. D. Cope on a neiv Species 0/ Vipera, 181 On a Species of Yipera hitherto unknown. By E. D. Cope. Vipera confluenta, sp. nov. Head much longer than broad, covered with small scales, which are more or less keeled as far anterior as the postfrontal region. Superciliaries little developed, once or many times divided. Scales of the upper surface of the muzzle larger ; a well-developed supra-nasal. Prenasal large, erect, undivided ; postnasal developed in front of, and narrowly superior to, the nostril. Three rows of scales between the orbits and the superior labials. The latter are eleven in number, the fourth longest, the first in contact with the prenasal. Rostral higher than broad. Inferior labials fourteen, fifth largest. Scales of the body in 25 rows, all keeled, never spiniferous. Gastro-steges 180 ; urosteges 48. Length from muzzle to rictus 1^ inch, from muzzle to vent 30| inches, from vent to end of tail 4f inches. General ground-colour brownish yellow ; belly paler. A broad undulating brown band, resembling a confluence of alternate rounded spots, extends from the nape to the end of the tail. A dark brown lateral streak, which is interrupted at regular intervals, extends throughout the greater part of the length. Labial regions yellowish; a brown band from orbit to angle of mouth ; a brown spot below orbit. The habitat of this species is not known, but is probably Africa. Its nearest ally is the V. Libitina, with which it forms a section of the genus characterized by a superciliary plate more or less subdi-vided, and leading off to Echidna. 1\\ the writer's opinion, the genus Vipera is to be separated from Echidna by its large prenasal plate, and postnasal slightly developed above the nostril, which is always
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