The Horned Lizards 



three dark bands; beneath the eye are three wider bands. Ab- 

 domen yellow with numerous dark, round spots. 



Dimensions. — Following are the dimensions of a large spec- 

 imen from Texas: 



Total Length 6 inches. 



Length of Tail i J 



Width of Body 2j " 



Length of Central Horns -^-^ " 



Distribution. — In the Central States this species occurs as 

 far eastward as Missouri, and has been recorded in western Illi- 

 nois, though it does not, at the present time, appear to exist as 

 far east as the locality of the latter record. Farther south, its 

 most easterly limit is western Arkansas and thence on a line 

 southward to Galveston, Texas. Westward the species ranges 

 throughout the great state of Texas, through New Mexico, Ari- 

 zona and into eastern California. Its most northerly limit in 

 the United States, appears to be Nebraska. In Mexico it occurs 

 in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora. It is most abundant 

 in Texas. 



Habits. — The habits are in no way different from the other 

 horned lizards described. It is fairly hardy in captivity, but 

 does not live so well as the California species, or the fine, Regal 

 Horned Lizard of the Arizona deserts. 



DITMARS' HORNED LIZARD 

 Phrynosonia ditmarsii, (Stejneger) 



In considering this recently discovered species, we arrive 

 at what might be termed the second group of horned lizards. 

 The general size of the species is rather smaller than those pre- 

 viously described, while the scalation of the body is finer. Thus 

 these species appear much smoother and less bristling than the 

 former lizards. With several of the species, the ear drum is 

 covered with granular scales and is not visible externally. Like 

 that portion of the genus already treated this latter portion is 

 so arranged that the species with rudimemtary horns precede 

 those with well developed head spines. 



The present species is practically hornless and has the widest 

 head of any of the genus. The head is considerably wider than 

 long. The region of the temple is produced into a flat, crest- 

 like prominence, bordered in the rear with large scales, but no 



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