THE HERPETOLOGY OF HISPANIOLA 153 



marked by a feebly indicated vertical groove and by two or three 

 vertical rows of slightly enlarged scales; five enlarged spines on the 

 midline of the back in each segment of the tail, the third and fourth 

 of the series being the largest. Very feeble indication of nuchal fold. 



"Uniform brownish gray above (in alcohol), lighter below; under 

 surface of the appendages straw-colored; dewlap tinged with orange. 



"Dimensions. — Head and body, 47 mm.; tail (regenerated), 50 

 mm.; snout to posterior edge of ear, 13 mm.; snout to center of eye, 

 8 mm.; width of head, 8.3 mm.; foreleg to base of toes, 14 mm.; 

 hindleg to base of third and fourth toe, 24.5 mm. 



"Variation. — The thirteen paratypes of the series (A.M.N.H. 

 Nos. 51037-49), agree with the type in color. They were all reddish 

 brown in life and have faded to a pale fawn tone in alcohol. The head- 

 scales exhibit considerable variance but no greater than has been ob- 

 served in typical specimens of dominicensis. Altavelensis is an island 

 form of dominicensis exhibiting a constant color difference and ap- 

 parently constant differences in the scalation of the tail. The peculiar 

 color of this lizard in life is difficult to describe. Specimens were 

 matched in the field as nearly as possible with tints of Winsor and 

 Newton's water-colors. These adapted to Ridgway's nomenclature 

 of colors would be as follows: The dorsal surface most often approached 

 an ochraceous rufous but ranged to nearly a gallstone yellow. The 

 ventral surfaces varied from gallstone yellow to deep chrome. The 

 dewlap in the males was a dragon's blood red. There were no dark 

 markings on the dorsal or ventral surfaces except occasionally in a 

 very dark individual. In such an individual a faint pattern of fine dark 

 veining was sometimes visible all over the body. 



"Habitat.— This species was fairly common throughout the small 

 island of Alta Vela, where individuals were seen running on rocks, 

 trees, and bushes from about sunrise until long into the dusk. During 

 the hotter part of the day they remained in shady places. They were 

 very wary and difficult to approach." 



A male paratype, A.M.N.H. No. 51045, has four irregular pairs of 

 snout scales between rostral and supraorbital semicircles; a small azy- 

 gous scale separating the last pair of snout scales as well as the first 

 pair of scales in the semicircles ; a triangular preoccipital over half the 

 length of the occipital, separating it from the posterior semicircle 

 scales; seven supralabials to beneath center of eye; 34 lamellae under 

 fourth toe; tail verticils composed of eight rows of smooth irregular 

 scales on the sides and four subequal pointed scales on top of the tail 

 (five posteriorly). Head and body, 47 mm.; head length, 14 mm.; 

 snout to center of eye, 8.5 mm.; head width, 9 mm.; foreleg, 20 mm.; 

 hindleg, 36 mm.; tail, 52 mm. No enlarged postanals occur in the 

 male. The dewlap is cream-colored in the preserved specimen. 



226849—41 11 



