The Skinks or Smooth-scaled Lizards 



very active, and is found in grass and fallen leaves, retreating 

 to holes under stones and boulders. 



The Black-banded Skink, Eumeces septentrionalis, (Baird). 

 Size moderate. Scales in about 2(S rows. A pair of white stripes 

 on each side, embracing a black band. Four black stripes on 

 the hack, the two outer of these bordering the upper of the white 

 stripes. 



Distribution. — The Central Region — Minnesota and the 

 Dakotas to Kansas. 



The Florida Skink, Eumeces egregius, (Baird). Smallest 

 and most elongated species of the genus inhabiting the United 

 States. Body and tail cylindrical, almost worm-like; limbs 

 small and weak. Ear opening minute. Scales in 22 rows 

 round the body. 



Colouration. — Olive to reddish brown. Four, equally dis- 

 tant white stripes — two on each side of the body and traversing 

 the centres of single rows of scales; the stripes are margined 

 with obscure, dotted lines. 



Attains a length of three and a half to four inches. 



Distribution. — Southern Florida and the Keys. 



The Black Skink, Eumeces anihracinus, (Baird). Attains 

 a length of about six inches. The scales are in 24 rows around 

 the body. Form elongated and cylindrical. 



Colouration. — Dark, olive green on the back; two distinct 

 white lines on the sides. In the centre of each pair of stripes 

 and bordering them above, is a coal-black band. Olive below 

 the lower stripe. There is no marked difference between the 

 young and the adult; the head of the adult is reddish. 



Dimensions. — Total length, 5^ inches; tail, 3 J inches. 



Distribution. — Most abundant in the Alleghanean region; 

 occurs from Pennsylvania to Texas. 



The Texas Skink, Eumeces tetragrammus, (Baird). Form 

 and colouration similar to the preceding, but the scales are in 

 26 to 28 rows. 



Olive above, with two greenish stripes on each side; darker 

 between the stripes. The stripes are separated by six rows 

 of scales, instead of four, as is the case with E. anthracinus. 

 Some specimens are black with very obscure stripes. 



Attains a length of 6 to 7 inches. 



Distribution. — Known only from Texas and northern Mexico. 



199 



