CKOCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 



529 



This variety is readily distinguishable from E.principis by the much 

 rougher scales, aud the equality of the lower lateral scales to those 

 above them, as well as by its more compressed body, two postnasals, 

 and the white edges to the lateral scales. It is very similar to the 

 type specimens of E.forniosa, having the sixteen rows of scales above 

 and the two postnasals. The chief difference is in a greater number 

 ot scales in a dorsal series (51), narrower head and shorter fore legs, and 

 the ground color brownish olive instead of greenish ash, with a series 

 of fifteen transverse dorsal bars instead of thirteen or fourteen spots. 



In his report of the Deatlr Valley expedition, Dr. Stejneger states 

 that — 



This form is only distantly related to G. mtdticarinatus, but very closely to (i. prin- 

 ciph, so close, in fact, that I believe that the name of the latter will become reduced 

 to a trinomiual when the geographical distribution of the two forms shall have been 

 ascertained in all its details. G, burnettii is now known to occur along the coast at 

 least from Monterey to Humboldt Bay. How far inland it extends its range, and 

 how and where it meets or grades into G. principis is as yet undeterminable. One 

 thing is certain, however, and that is, that the range of G. burnettii and G. muUicari- 

 natus overlap considerably, and in this fact alone I see suflScient proof of their spe- 

 cific distinctness. The differences between them are certainly due neither to sexual, 

 nor to seasonal, nor to individual variation, great as the latter is in the Gerrhonoti. 



Gcrrhonotus burnettii Gray. 



Catalogue ^'*^]'J 

 T^„* of speci- 

 mens. 



4131 

 4132 



3080 

 3085 



Locality. 



Petahimna 



Upper California 



Westpoint, California . 

 Presidio, California . . . 



When 

 collected. 



From whom received. 



Samuels 



U. S. Exploring Expedi- 

 tion. 

 Lieutenant Trowbridge . 



Nature of 

 specimen. 



Type. 

 Type. 



GERRHONOTUS PRINCIPIS Baird and Girard. 



Elgaria principis Baird and Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VI, October, 

 1852, p. 175; Oregon.— Girard, Herpt. U. S. Expl. Exp., 1858, p. 214, pi. xxii, 

 figs. 9-16.— O'Shaughne.ssy, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1873 (4), XII, p. 48. 



Dorsal rows of scales sixteen, the lowest about half that adjacent to 

 it. Ventral rows twelve. Frontal very small, lozenge-shaped, com- 

 pletely surrounded by the post-internasals aud prefrontals; nearly 

 e(iual in size. Two postnasals, the upper sometimes continent into one. 

 Supraorbitals 5 and 2. Scales obsoletely carinated; nearly smooth on 

 the head, neck, sides of body (lowest rows), and of tail, as well as on 

 legs. Hind feet from heel longer than from snout to ear; width of 

 head two-thirds this amount. Forty eight scales from head to tail. 

 Tail nearly twice the head and body. 



Above light brownish olive; the sides with obscure darker vertical 

 bars, broken up into spots and without white edges behind. A median 

 row of IG or 18 dark spots, representing as many bands on the sides. 

 Beneath greenish yellow white. 

 NAT MUS 98 — 34 



