It hardly ever happens that a native of Egypt can bring himself to destroy an _Efa_, of which he has the greatest dread. If, as often occurs, he finds one of these reptiles in his house, he addresses himself to the _Hani_ or juggler, in order that, by his magic art, he may expel the dangerous visitor. From this custom the juggler evidently derives no small advantage, for, as is only right, he does not ply his craft for nothing. In many cases, indeed, the juggler releases a snake in a house, and then goes and informs the owner that he knows that a reptile is concealed in his dwelling, and that, in consideration of a stipulated reward, he will rid him of it (Brehm). [Illustration: FIG. 41.--_Echis coloratus._ (After G. A. Boulenger, _op. cit._)] (2) _E. coloratus_ (fig. 41).--Scales on the snout and vertex convex, smooth or bluntly keeled, 13-15 from eye to eye; no supraocular shield; 17-22 scales round the eye; 12-15 supralabials; scales on the body in 31-35 rows; 174-205 ventrals; 42-52 subcaudals. No cruciform mark on the head. Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 80. _Habitat_: Palestine, Arabia, Socotra. (f) =Atheris.= Head very distinct from neck, covered with imbricate scales; eyes large, with vertical pupils, usually separated from the labial shields by small scales; nostrils lateral. Body slightly compressed; scales keeled, with apical pits. Tail moderate, _prehensile_; subcaudal scales in a single row. (1) _A. chlorechis._--No supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-11 scales from eye to eye; 25-36 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 154-165 ventrals; 53-62 subcaudals. Colour green, uniform or with small yellow spots; end of tail yellowish or blackish. Total length, 520 millimetres; tail 85. _Habitat_: West Africa, from Liberia to the Ogowai. (2) _A. squamiger._--No supraciliary horn-like scales; 7-8 scales from eye to eye; 15-25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 153-173 ventrals; 51-95 subcaudals. Colour olive, uniform or with more or less regular, narrow yellow cross-bands, or yellow with green spots; belly pale olive, marbled with black or yellow, or uniform yellow. Total length, 550 millimetres; tail 100. _Habitat_: West Africa, from the Cameroons to Angola. (3) _A. ceratophorus._--Several erect, supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-10 scales from eye to eye; 25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 142 ventrals; 55 subcaudals. Colour dark olive, with black spots forming cross-bands; belly pale olive, speckled with black. Total length, 210 millimetres; tail 65. _Habitat_: East Africa. (g) =Atractaspis.= (Fig. 42.)