1852.] 



207 



The specimen above described was found by Dr. G. F. Hammond, and pre- 

 sented by him to the Academy. 



CROTAPHYTUS, Holbrook. 



Crotaphytus fasciatus. 



Sp. Char. Head of moderate size, triangular, slightly swollen at the temples j 

 body slender ; anterior extremities idem ; tail nearly three times as long as the 

 body (including neck and extending to vent ;) body covered with small granu- 

 lations, ash colored, with seven or eight narrow transverse bands upon the back 

 of the color of vermilion ; bands of a similar color upon the tail ; legs banded ; 

 abdomen covered with quadrangular scales : flesh-colored ; femoral pores in the 

 male very distinct. 



Description. The head is subtriangular, rounded in front, slightly swollen at 

 the temples, covered above with polygonal tubercles, larger anteriorly ; a row 

 considerably larger than the rest runs along the middle line of the front part of 

 the head, midway between the nostrils ; these tubercles are much smaller and 

 of more uniform size upon the temples ; they are also small over the orbits ; the 

 occipital plate is of moderate size, and rather indistinct ; the supraciliary ridges 

 are well developed ; the external margin of the eyelid is bordered with a row 

 of quadrangular scales, external to which is another row upon the lower lid, 

 with pointed extremities, presenting a well-marked denticulation ; the lids are 

 covered with minute granulations ; the nostrils are large, oval, lateral, looking 

 outward and slightly backward, situated in a single scale; the rostral plate is 

 narrow, quadrangular, much more extended transversely than in the vertical 

 direction ; the upper jaw is bordered with a row of seventeen plates ; the exter- 

 nal opening of the ear is very apparent, oval, its anterior border presenting a few 

 small denticulations ; neck folded ; body slender, covered above with small 

 granulations, rather larger upon the back than upon the sides ; anterior extre- 

 mities slender; posterior well developed ; both covered above wiih granulations, 

 rather larger in front than posteriorly ; several rows of small plates along the 

 margin of the lower jaw ; chin and throat covered with small granulations ; abdo- 

 men covered with smooth hexagonal and quadrangular scales ; anterior surface of 

 arms and forearms covered with small granulations ; of thighs and legs with 

 scales similar to those upon the abdomen ; femoral pores very distinct ; no anal 

 ones ; tail very long and slender posteriorly, covered with smooth quadrangular 

 scales near its root, hexagonal posteriorly ; these scales are distinctly verticil- 

 late throughout the greater part of the length of the tail, less so anteriorly, and 

 carinated both anteriorly and posteriorly, except within about two inches of its 

 root ; femoral pores very distinct. 



Color. Head of the specimen examined of a light yellow color, with numer- 

 ous small brown spots disseminated upon its surface ; a dark colored bar upon 

 the temples, between the orbit and ear ; chin and throat marked with dark 

 colored lines and blotches ; body ash color above, presenting numerous small 

 points upon its surface, and marked with transverse bars of a vermilion color 

 during life ; upper surface of its extremities resembling in color that of the 

 abdomen, the thighs and more especially the legs marked with transverse bands 

 of vermilion ; abdomen flesh color ; tail ash, beautifully banded with trans- 

 verse bars of vermilion. 



Dimensions. Length of head 10|^ lines; greatest breadth 7 lines; length of 

 neck and body 2 J inches ; length of tail 6J inches ; of arm 5 lines ; of anterior 

 extremity 1 inch 7 lines ; length of foot to extremity of longest toe 13 lines. 



Habitat. Sand hills, at the lower end of the Jornada del Muerte, New 

 Mexico. 



Remarks. This animal, of which there are two specimens, a male and a fe- 

 male, forming part of Dr. Woodhouse's collection, differs from the Crotaphytus 

 Wislizenii of Baird and Girard, in the size and shape of the head: that of 

 Wislizenii being about a quarter of an inch longer ; the latter is also broader and 



