654 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



being brown gives rise to two of the narrow brown lines. The adja- 

 cent or inner half of the two median dorsal rows are plain and of the 

 gronnd color; their exterior halves and the adjacent third of the next 

 row are brown, producing the broad dorsal stripe. The second row of 

 scales is thus lett olivaceous along the central third, and brown exter- 

 nally, much as in the third row. The inner or upper half of the fourth 

 row is light olive, interdigitating into the brown of the third row; its 

 lower half, with the upper third of the next or fifth row, forms the 

 second broad brown stripe. The central and lower third of this fifth 

 row is light, the upper third brown. The next, or sixth, row when col- 

 ored has a light line along the center, the sides brown, the lower 

 brown, sometimes the upper wanting. 



This species is very similar to that described as P. leptogrammus, but 

 has a shorter head, much more elongated body, and feebler limbs; 

 almost always two postorbitals, one above the other, not behind it. 

 The theory of coloration is much the same, it being only necessary to 

 have leptogrammus become light olive in the ground color, and the 

 indications of dark stripes to become more distinct by the contrast. 

 Indeed, but for the total difference in proi)ortions, as substantiated by 

 the comparison of a large number of specimens of each, I would have 

 no hesitation in combining them. 



A color variety which is unstri]ied was regarded by Baird as a dis- 

 tinct species under the name of Plestiodon inornatus. A specimen 

 displays the following general characters: 



Body cylindrical, slender. Legs far apart. Head short, conical, C(m- 

 vex above, as high as broad; two small postnasals, about equal, one 

 exactly above the other. Hind leg applied forward twice reaches four- 

 fifths of the way to the fore leg; three lengths reach to the ear; it is 

 contained three and one-half times in the head and body; from the knee 

 nearly five times. Fore leg from elbow as long as from snout to ear, 

 which is contained five and one half times in head and body. Tail one 

 and one-half times head and body, constricted at base, then swelling. 

 Fifth hind toe shorter than second; free portion of longest barely 

 exceeding half the head to ears; about twenty-four rows of scales 

 round the body; the lateral parallel to the dorsal; about fifty-eight 

 scales from head to tail. 



Color, very light olive, tinged beneath with bluish; without any 

 dusky marks whatever; whiter beneath the head. 



