The Skinks or Smooth-scaled Lizards 



Distribution. — The Central Region — Nebraska to northern 

 Texas. 



The Sonera Skink, Eiimeces ohsolctus, (Baird and Girard). 

 A large species, attaining a length of 1 1 to 12 inches. Scales in 

 26 to 28 rows round the body. Limbs short; twice the length 

 of the hind limb carried forward reaches only to the base of 

 the arm. 



Colouration. — Young black with five very faint stripes. 

 Adult yellowish, or olive; margins of the scales darker; head 

 reddish. 



Distribution. — Kansas and central Texas, to Utah and Ari- 

 zona; northern Mexico. 



Division C. Four pale lines on a darker hue. 



Skilton's Skink, Eumeces skiltonianus, (Baird and Girard). 

 Attains a length of six to seven inches. Scales in about twenty- 

 six rows. Twice the length of the hind leg applied forward 

 reaches between the base of the foreleg and the ear. 



Colouration. — Young olive, with two whitish lines on each 

 side, embracing a dark band. The upper stripes are bordered 

 by a black band (very narrow). Adults olive, with fainter stripes. 



Dimensions.— JoXdA length, 5I inches; tail, 3^ inches. 



Distribution. — The Pacific Region. Vancouver Island and 

 extreme southwestern Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, 

 western Nevada and Lower California to Cape St. Lucas. An 

 abundant species. 



Gilbert's Skink, Eumeces gilherti, (Van Denburgh). Struc- 

 tural characters like Skilton's Skink, but the colouration is 

 different. 



Young dark brown above, the scales with pale centres. Four 

 pale lines, the lower not distinct, between ear and base of fore- 

 limb. The upper lines are broader than with Skilton's Skink 

 and closer together. 



Adult brownish olive, tinged with red; head bright red. 

 No traces of stripes. Scales often with green centres. 



Dimensions. — Larger than its near ally. Total length, 

 8^ inches; tail, 5^ inches. 



Distribution. — "Western slope of the Sierra Nevada in the 

 vicinity of the Yosemite Valley, California." (Van Denburgh). 



Habits. — Mr. Van Denburgh explains that the species is 



198 



