HERPETOLOGY OF ZUNI MOUNTAINS — GEHLBACH 289 



Cope (1900, p. 417), concerned with P. d. ornatissimum, stated: 

 "According to Stejneger this is the desert form of the species. In 

 Arizona Dr. Merriam only found it on the Painted Desert, while he 

 found the P. d. hernandesi in the cedar and pine belts in the San 

 Francisco Moimtain region." Bailey (1913) included both races in 

 his New Mexico, Upper Sonoran Life Zone, but only P. d. hernandesi 

 in the Transition Zone. Eaton (1935, p. 16) commented on his 

 inability to distinguish P. d. ornatissimum from P. d. hernandesi in 

 northern Arizona, and Durham (1956, p. 222) described specimens of 

 both "subspecies" from the Grand Canyon. Bragg and Dundee 

 (1949, p. 57) and Lowe (1947) observed color variation correlated with 

 ecological differences near Las Vegas and Socorro, New Mexico, 

 respectively. In view of past and current difficulties in separating 

 the two forms, I suggest that P. d. ornatissimum be placed in the 

 synonomy of P. d. hernandesi, which has page priority (see Girard, 

 1858, pp. 395-396). 



Short-horned lizards are certainly the most eurytopic reptiles of 

 the Zuni region if not of New Mexico. They could be observed 

 readily in aU major vegetational associations except the spruce-fir 

 but were most abundant in the pinyon-juniper savanna. Specimens 

 were taken in the alpine-tundra association at 11,300 feet on Mt. 

 Taylor (La Mosca Lookout), a greater elevation than attained by any 

 other species studied (fig. 3) . This is possibly the highest occurrence 

 of any reptile or amphibian in the Southwest. 



The birth of ten young (24-26, x 24.8 mm. snout-vent) was observed 

 in a clump of rabbitbush at 6400 feet, 11:00 a.m., August 14, 1957. 

 AU were extruded within ten minutes and, with freedom from their 

 investing membrane, immediately buried themselves in the loose, 

 sandy soil. They were medium gray with only the dark-brown dorsal 

 spots of the salient color pattern. Other dates (1957) of parturition 

 and accompanying brood size are June 25 (15), July 11 (8), July 20 (6), 

 August 3 (21), August 10 (11) for females taken between 7000 and 

 7500 feet and maintained in outdoor cages at 7200 feet. A single 

 juvenile, 20 mm. snout-vent, was collected on August 12 at 8200 feet. 

 Specimens with ova, 0.6-1.5 mm. in diameter, were found throughout 

 the summer months; one from 11,300 feet contained 11 eggs averaging 

 4.2 mm. on July 17, 1956. 



Locality records : 



MCKINLEY CO.: 6 mi. S. Thoreau (CU 5119, 5233, 5447, 5632, 5703, 5709; 

 UMMZ 120409) ; Ft. Wingate (USNM 14396, 14408) ; Prewitt (KUMNH 28063*) ; 

 Rio Puorco, Continental Divide (AMNH 62853-4); Seven Lakes (CU 5620); 

 Gallup (CU 5S41); 10 mi. N. Gallup (TNHC 11654-5); Valencia co.: Grants 

 (MCZ 0791*; USNM 44805); 10.4 mi. S. Grants (CU 5601); La Mosca Lookout, 

 Mt. Taylor (CU 5453); Mark Elkin's Ranch, Mt. Taylor (KUMNH 28062*); 



