TEIID LIZARDS OF THE GENUS CNEMIDOPHOKUS 239 



Dc'uljiniih, VJ±2. p. .">('».'"). (".A.kS. ; San Fninc'hsaj IkUiihI, <a.,sl (o<t.s/, Van 

 Denbur^jh and Slevin, 1921&, p. 397, C.A.S., M.C.Z.; Sa7i Jose del 

 Coho, Van Denbnroh, 1895, p. I'M), TT.S.X.]\[.. (\A.S.. Stai.foid ; /^an 

 Marcos Island, east coasts Van Denburgli and Slevin, 19:^16, p. 397, 

 C.A.S.; Sail Nicolas liaij. Xaw Denburgli, 1922, p. 505, C.A.S.; San 

 Pedro, Yan Denbrn-j-h, V.)'2'2. p. 558, C.A.S.. A.M.X.H., M.C.Z.: Sanfa 

 Anita, Schmidt, 1922, p. 079, U.S.N.M.; Santa Ca:^ Cant/on, C.A.S.; 

 Santa Margarita Island, u^est coast, Schmidt, 1922, p. 079, U.S.N.M., 

 C.A.S.; Santiago, U.S.N.M.; Sierra Laguna Mountain, Van Dcn- 

 bur<>h, 1922, p. 558, C.A.S.; Todos Santos, idem, p. 558, C.A.S., 

 Ar.(\Z.: Triunfo. Van Denbnroh, 1922, p. 558, C.A.S.). 



Habitat and hahits. — Snrprisingly few notes concerninii- the hab- 

 itat and habits of this rehitively well known and abundant western 

 species have been published. The first was a[)parently given by 

 Atsatt (1913, p. 40). wlio collected the subspecies near the northern 

 limit of its known range. She wrote that '" at Valle vista, 1,800 feet, 

 one was found in a stubble field * * ''"' On the outskirts of the 

 town of San Jacinto on the road to Beaumont, 1,500 feet, one was 

 found rustling among dead cottonwood leaves. At Reche Canyon, 

 near Colton, during the summer of 1908, several were collected in 

 such habitats as a sandy wash, on a hill sparsely covered with vege- 

 tation, and in the dust by the roadside. Record was made of two 

 found in the act of copulation on July 22."' 



Grinnell and Camp (1917, p. 175) wrote that the Calif ornian 

 specimens inhabit dry, sparsely vegetated, sandy ground, and dusty 

 roadsides. Several short notes were given by Van Denburgli (1922, 

 pp. 559, 503, and 508) for this subspecies in various parts of its range. 

 In regard to his '* V. hyperytJira hyperythra,^'' which he confined 

 largely to the Cape district of Lower California, he Avrote as follows : 

 '' Mr. Slevin says that this species ranged from sea level to 1,400 feet, 

 and was found to be abundant throughout the lower levels among 

 fallen cacti and numerous brush heaps. The native name is Waco. 

 This little lizard keeps well under cover, seldom coming into the open, 

 and moves along with a short jerky motion a few inches at a time, 

 until becoming alarmed wdien it makes off at top speed for the dense 

 undergrowth. A pair were found mating at San Pedro the first week 

 in July." In regard to his " heldingi " at San Jacinto, Calif., Van 

 Denburgli reported that specimens were found on rock}^ hillsides and 

 that they were very shy, quickly retreating into their holes when 

 approached. According to the same authority, Mr. Slevin found 

 ihe supposedly distinct '' es/^i/itensis^^ on rocks in the steep canyons 

 of Espiritu Santo Island, where it was very shy. Klauber (1928. 

 p. 4) has given the following note in regard to tlie occurrence of 

 hyperythrus in San Diego County, Calif. : "" ^Moderately rare from 

 the ocean to tlie mountains, usually in brush." 



