CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 549 



XANTUSIA PICTA Cope. 



Xanhtsia picta Cope, American Naturalist, 189;"), pp. SoO, 939. 



As already uoted in the analytical table of species of Xantusia, this 

 species is of more slender ])roportions than the two other members of 

 the genns; its limbs and tail are mnch longer, so that its habitats are 

 probably different from theirs. There are numerous minor differences 

 in the squaination, and the head is much flatter than in either of the 

 other species, as well as somewhat wider. In its coloration it is remark- 

 ably different, being- much more elegant than the others. Its scutal 

 characters ally it with the A', vigilis rather than with the A', river siana. 



Head very much flattened and broad behind; body and proximal 

 half of the tail flat, distal half of the latter cylindric. The tail tapers 

 gradually from the base, and is not swollen as in the other species. It 

 is twice the length of the body. Extended hind limb reaching to 

 shoulder; extended fore limb reaching anterior border of orbit. The 



Fig. 98. 

 Xantusia \-\ ta Cope. 



Tejon Pass, Califoi-uia. 



Cnnt-ctioii of E. D. fojif. 



digits are not very elongate; the flrst finger is shorter than the flfLh, 

 and the second toe extends farther distad than the fifth, which extends 

 a little beyond the flrst. Claws well protruded from their sheaths. 



The head scuta are a good deal like those of the X. vigilis. The inter- 

 nasal is rectangular, and is a little wider than long; the frontonasals are 

 longer than wide and have considerable mutual (contact. The frontal 

 is wider than long, as is each of the occipitals. External to the pari- 

 etals is a series of four or five smaller scuta, of which the lirst two are 

 in contact with the supraoculars One nasal, two loreals, the posterior 

 larger than the anterior, and two small preoculars. Eye resting 

 directly on superior labials. There are six of the latter on each side, 

 and a seventh scale is separated from the mouth border by smaller 

 scales. The fifth ami sixth bound the orbit. In the X. vigilis there 

 are seven and eight scales on the mouth border; the fifth is immediately 

 below the eye, from which it is separated by a series of minute scales. 

 A large symphyseal, and only four- inferior labials in contact with the 

 lip border: a fifth separated from it by scales. The third and fourth are 



