CKOCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKKS. 



323 



cross bands, sometimes light-edged beliind, on each side, never confluent 

 across the median line. Tail black or blackish brown. Head above 

 lighter, with a few superciliary brown specks or cross lines. Each side 

 of abdomen blue from axilla to groin, deepest and nearly meeting other 

 side on the median line. Throat in males orange. 



This species is nearest (J. graciona, of the Colorado region, ])nt has a 

 shorter muzzle, broader front, and other distinguishing' traits. It was 

 found in considerable abundance with U. stannhnriana and ihalassina. 



Fig. 44. 



TTta niokicauda Cope. 



X 2.5. 



La Paz, Lower California. 



Cat. No. 15614, U.S.N.M. 



Ufa ntfiricauda Cope. 



Catalogue 



5307 



5245 

 12(514 

 15588 



Number 

 of speci- 

 mens. 



Locality. 



When col- 

 lected. 



Prom whom received. 



Nature of 

 specimen. 



Cape St. Lucas, Lower John Xantus Alcoholic; 



California. I type. 



do do Alcoholic. 



La Paz, Lower California, Feb.— ,1882.. L.Belding 1 do. 



Cape St. Lucas ! ' John Xantus do. 



This small species is abundant in Lower California. Van Deuburgh, 

 who has seen many of them, says: 



There is a very great amount of variation iu the size, shape, and number of the 

 head plates, even the frontal being sometimes divided transversely. The largest 

 dorsal scales are along the median line. They are replaced, sometimes gradually 

 and sometimes abruptly, by granules on the sides. Seventeen to twenty-four of the 

 largest dorsals are equal to the length of the head to the posterior edge of the inter- 



