638 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



of its stripes from any otlier before me. Its locality (Colonels Island, 

 off the coast of Georgia, and not on the main land) is to be duly con- 

 sidered. 



The Eumeces quinquelineatus is distributed throughout the eastern dis- 

 trict, with the exception of the Canadian and Hudsonian subdistricts, 

 and throughout the austroriparian, excepting the Texan district. The 

 most northern locality from which I have seen a specimen is Michigan, 

 as pointed out by Hallowell. Of its occurrence in Massachusetts, Prof. 

 J. A. Allen wrote in 1868: 



A specimen is said by Dr. Storer to have been sent him from Barre, and to have 

 been found in a mud hole in that place by Dr. Joseph N. Bates. Mr. Linsley ' gives it 

 as occurring occasionally near New Haven. Dr. De Kay says it is not uncommon in 

 the southern counties of the State of New York, but Massachusetts is quite beyond 

 its usual northern range, and it can be expected to occur there but rarely. 



It is rare in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In Texas I have 

 it from Dallas, but have not seen or heard of it west of that locality. 



In its movements the Eumeces quinquelineatus is active, but not nearly 

 as much so as the Hceloporus undulatus of the same region. I kept a 

 specimen in confinement for a considerable time. After it had been 

 without food I introduced into the vivarium with it a number of wood 

 Vice {Oniscus sp.). Soon after, I observed the Eumeces performing ex- 

 traordinary movements, leaping about, turning somersaults, and rolling 

 over. It soon became (quiescent and died. On examination I found 

 in its alimentary canal aggregations of the shells of the wood lice, and at 

 other points bladder-like expansions of the intestine, inclosed by con- 

 strictions. The contents of the canal were fetid, and it was apparent 

 that the lizard had gorged itself with the Onisci, which it had been 

 unable to pass. The result was decomposition, accumulations of gas, 

 and death from wind colic. The gyrations of the reptile render it evi- 

 dent that the disorder was no less painful to it than it is to mammals 

 under the same conditions. 



Systematic authors generally have given this species as an inhabitant 

 of Japan, and commented upon the fact as a remarkable exception to the 

 usual laws of geographical distribution. I have examined a specimen 

 from Simoda, Japan, and I have not the slightest hesitation in pro- 

 nouncing the species distinct. The postnasal is divided into two 

 plates, one above the other, instead of one, as in E. quinqueUneatuSj 

 together forming a narrow and high plate, as in E. septentrionalis. 

 There is but one postmental plate. The frontal is smaller and scarcely 

 or not at all in contact with the postnasal. The scales are much larger; 

 the ten central above abruptly larger than the lateral. There are 24 ( r 

 2oencircling the body. The upper lateral stripe runs through the middle 

 of the third row of scales from the central line (nearest the upper ed5;e) 

 and the two ui)per lateral are separated by but four rows of scales. In 

 quinquelineatus the upper white stripe is generally along the adja- 



1 Storer's Report, p. 41. 



