CROCODILIAN^, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 



387 



small size of scales in the subjacent cavity. Occipital plate very large, 

 subtriangular or pentagonal, broader than long, with three lateral 

 plates, all quite small. The series of cephalic plates is occipital, 1, 1, 2, 3, 

 and two or three smaller series to the nostrils. All are perfectly 

 smooth. The supraorbital region shows one interuiil series of small 

 I)lates, then a series of six or seven moderately broad ones, then two 

 rather confused smaller series within the angular plates at the extreme 

 outer edge. 



The scales on the body are all small, there being, as far as can be 

 ascertained, about fifty encircling the body at the thickest part. In a 

 male about fifteen rows nuiy be counted in the middle of the back in a 

 space equal to the head in width; in a distended female only eleven. 

 The scales on the tail are wider than those on the back. The scales 



Fig. 63. 



SCELOPORUS GRACIOSUS BAIKD AND GiRARD. 



X 2. 



Oregon. 



Collection of E. T>. Cope. 



on the back are but little wider than those on the belly, certainly not 

 one and a half times as wide. They are acute, conspicuously keeled, 

 and mucronate behind, but with only slight indication of lateral notches, 

 and that only close to the median point. The belly scales are very 

 rarely notched, generally angular, but sometimes a little truncate. 

 Those on the inside of the tibia and between the anal region are 

 smooth. There are about fifteen femoral pores. 



The ground color of this species is brownish; olivaceous above, with 

 two conspicuous yellowish stripes on each side, the two inclosing a 

 rather darker stripe, and the lower with a narrow interrupted dusky 

 line below- it. On each side are two series of U-shaped or crescentic 

 dusky blotches, one between the light stripes, tlie other above the 

 upper one. They are separated on the back by a plain grayish line, 

 equal to the width of two (sometimes three) scales. They really begin 



