288 BULLETIN 17 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



numerous large white dots, which do not aHgn themselves very 

 definitely into longitudinal rows; nuchal region becoming gradually 

 light and immaculate china blue, turning toward sage green on top of 

 head; chin and throat very light, faintly clouded with olive-gray; 

 breast and mesoptychial region black; outermost ventral plates with 

 occasional dark areas; tail spotted like the body but Avith the dark 

 area less intense and with the spots conforming to the rectangular 

 shape of the tail scales. 



Variations. — In the eight specimens in the National collection, 

 variability in scale count is not great. The scales in the fifteenth 

 verticil of the tail number between 36 and 41 ; the lamellae of the fourth 

 toe are 39 to 45; the femoral pores are 19 to 24; the dorsal granules 

 are 71 to 79 per standard distance in adult specimens. The dorsal 

 granules are thus found to be somewhat finer than is the case in 

 typical chrysolaema. 



In the occipital plates the three median ones tend to be about the 

 same in area, or else the central one is slightly smaller than the 

 adjacent ones, in tliis respect agreeing with typical chrysolaema. 



The preanal plates usually number six to eight, and the one or two 

 median scales are usually smaller than those on either side. 



In coloration the three half-grown specimens are similar to the 

 adults, and there is no trace of definite stripmg on the body, although 

 the light dots may seem to lie in parallel rows for short distances. In 

 two lizards a reproduced tail has been grown, and the pattern of the 

 reproduced part is in symmetrical light and dark stripes, in decided 

 contrast to the original portion of the member which is spotted with 

 rather irregular areas of hght and dark. This bit of evidence shows 

 that the ancestral pattern was probably of stripes, lilie those of the 

 typical chrysolaema as well as of the subspecies affinis. 



Some living examples of abbotti were brought back to the National 

 Zoological Park by Dr. Wetmore and Mr. Lincoln. Their exquisite 

 hues are suggested in the following color notes obtained from the 

 living creature: 



Top of head brick red turning to olive-green on nuchal region; 

 dorsal spots olive; ground color black; lateral spots and those on 

 anterior femur and on upper arm pale blue ; tail clay color with dimin- 

 ishing black spots; loreal and labial regions coral red; some pale spots 

 below eye; olive to salmon in front of ear, with the upper surfaces of 

 hands and feet salmon ; throat and belly coral to brick red ; under parts 

 of forearm and throat black; under parts of hindleg rufous to orange- 

 vermUion. 



Specimens examined.— U.S. l<i.M. Nos. 83883-83889, 84293, 85062- 

 85064, Beata Island, May 11-13, 1931, Dr. A. Wetmore and F. C. 

 Lmcoln; M.C.Z. Nos. 37578-37582, Beata Island, April 11, 1934, 

 Utowana Expedition. 



