AMEIVASEX-LINEATA. 65 



from the angle of the mouth, below the tympanum, to the shoulder; the spaces 

 between these longitudinal bands are jet black. The throat is silvery white, and 

 the abdomen of a beautiful shining bluish-white colour. 



The upper surface of the tail is nearly similar in colour to the back, but appears 

 much rougher from the verticillated scales; its inferior surface is whitish. There 

 are two longitudinal lines on each side of the tail; the superior one is continuous 

 with the middle yellow longitudinal line of the back, and terminates about the 

 middle of the tail; the inferior line is paler; it begins back of the thigh, runs 

 nearly to the extremity of the tail, and seems to divide the upper or darker portion 

 from the inferior or whiter part. 



The anterior, as well as the posterior extremities, are brownish above and bluish 

 white below; and along the posterior part of the thigh runs a whitish line, con- 

 tinuous with the inferior longitudinal line of the tail. 



o 



Dimensions. Total length, 9| inches; head and body, 3? inches; tail, 6j inches. 



Geographical Distribution. The Ameiva sex-lineata is numerous in the 

 Carolinas, and is found throughout Georgia and the Floridas: how much further 

 west it may exist cannot now be determined. 



Habits. This is a very lively, active animal, choosing dry and sandy places 

 for its residence, and is frequently met with in the neighbourhood of plantations, 

 or near fences and hedges; most usually it is seen on the ground in search of 

 insects, but it will take to trees when pursued: its motions are remarkably quick; 

 it runs with great speed, and climbs with facility, yet it cannot leap from branch 

 to branch, or from tree to tree, like the Anolius Carolinensis. The Ameiva sex- 

 lineata is very timid; it feeds on insects, and generally seeks its food towards the 

 close of the day, when they may be seen in cornfields far from their usual retreat; 

 and not unfrequently I have met male and female in company. 

 Vol. I.— 9 



