CROCODirJANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 

 Euhlepharis variegatim liaird. 



469 



This very pretty lizard is the only species of the Eublepharidte thus 

 far found in Texas. Both the banded and spotted forms occur. I 

 found both rather abundant in the rocky hills of the first j)lateau 

 northwest of San Antonio, but did not observe it in that region north 

 of that point either on the Gnadalupe or Llano rivers. It is found in 

 holes under stones toward evening, and generally in pairs — a peculiarity 

 I have not observed in any other lizard.' Its manners are also peculiar. 

 It carries its thick tail coiled vertically on one side of its back, like the 

 spitz dog. Its movements are quick bnt feeble, and its short legs for- 

 bid the speed of other lizards. Euhlepharis has large, thick eyelids, 

 and as their movement in winking is slower than in other lizards the 

 physiognomy is quite peculiar. When handled this species chirrups 

 and squeals feebly like a singing mouse. One specimen which I took 

 was about to shed its skin, so I i>laced it in ajar to observe the process. 

 This took place in the night, for next morning it was so clean and its 

 color so bright that it looked as thongh gotten up for some special occa- 

 sion. As no trace of the skin could be found, I suppose that it ate it, 

 after the manner of the Batrachia. In life the colors are very elegant; 

 the pale crossbands are citron yellow and the brown ones bright chest- 

 nut. The inferior surfaces and all i)arts of the limbs are flesh or rose 

 color. 



UROPLATOIDEA. 



Uroplafoidea Gill, Smithsonian Report for 1885, 1886, p. 799. 

 Geccovarani Copk, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 32, 1887, p. 2.5. 



Petrosal bone produced beyond anterior semicircular canal and not 

 articulating above with the edge of the parietal. Olfactory lobes 

 underarched by the frontal bones. Clavicle proximally simple. Yer- 

 tebra; amphicoelous. No supratemporal arch. Tongue papillose. 



But one family of this superfamily is known, which is defined as 

 follows: 



Dentition pleurodont, pariefala distinct; postorbital and po8tfronto-s(iuaiiio8al 

 arches wanting; intorclaviclo niimite; nasal bones united; tip of tougiio not 

 retractile ; occipital condyle divided UROPLATiDJi 



