44 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEXCES [Pkoc. 30 Ser. 



any of my specimens. One example of A . palchra (No. 5 1 10) , 

 however, has it longitudinally divided throughout the poste- 

 rior third of its length. The interparietal (occipital of Mr. 

 Boulenger) is completely divided longitudinally in one exam- 

 ple of A, 7iigra (No. 6228) and divided through one-fifth its 

 length in another (No. 6218). 



6. This is the normal arrangement, but is subject to 

 variation. 



7. This shield may be absent. 



8. The number of lower labials ranges from five to seven. 



9. The number of scales around the middle of the body 

 varies in A. puldira from twenty-four to thirty-four, while in 

 54 specimens of A. nigra the number is twenty-eight in 12, 

 thirty in 36, and thirty-two in 6. 



10. The preanal scales, as already stated, may be not 

 enlarged, moderately enlarged, or twice as long as those 

 preceding them. This is true in both A. pulchra and 

 A. nigra. 



11. The length of the tail is subject to so much variation 

 that it cannot be regarded as furnishing a good specific char- 

 acter. The longest ones I have seen are one-third the total 

 length in A. nigra and two-fifths in A, pulcJira. 



12. This is the coloration of some specimens of A. 

 pulchra. 



It will be seen that, with one exception, all of the char- 

 acters of Anniella texana have been found in specimens of 

 A. pnlcJira and A. nigra either as the normal condition or 

 as individual variations. The single exception is the com- 

 plete division of the frontoparietal plate — a condition which 

 is manifestly anomalous, since this plate has been found par- 

 tially divided in other specimens. It is evident therefore 

 that Anniella texavui must stand as a synonym of A. pulchra 

 Gray. 



Anniella texana being thus disposed of, one is tempted to 

 treat A . nigra in the same way, regarding it as based merely 

 upon melanistic individuals of A. pnlchra. This view we 

 certainly should have to adopt if both dark and light colored 

 specimens occurred in the same localities, but I believe this 



