ZOOLOGY. 293 



were found under stones, and would seem to be more in the habit of hunting their insect prey 

 on the ground than on trees or fences. Their movements were so rapid as to make it very 

 difEcult to catch them, and in struggling to escape nearly all broke oft" part of their tails, which, 

 as in other reptiles, is probably a slight loss to them, a cartilaginous growth soon supplying its 

 place. This species seems to approach nearer the cold regions than any other, as the near 

 vicinity of the perpetual snows of the Cascade mountains and the considerable elevation of the 

 valley causes a very moderate temperature, even in summer, in the place where it was found. 



I have seen this lizard but once since, near the mouth of the Columbia among the warm sand 

 and drift-logs on its northern bank. 



When alive the colors were light brown, with black spots; belly pinkish white. 



ELGARIA GRANDIS, Baird & Girard. 



The Banded Elgarla. 



Elgaria grandis, B. & G. U. S. Kxpl. Exped. Herp. 212, pi. XXII, fig. 1.9. 



Sp. Ch. — Dorsal scales disposed upon fifty transverse and fourteen longitudinal series. Four unequal post-nasal plates. 

 Preanal shields smaller than the abdominal. Tail nearly twice the length of the body and head together. Above brownish olive, 

 with eleven brown bands across the neck and back, covering one row of scales which are tipped with white. Beneath unicolor. 



Found at Fort Steilacoom by Dr. Suckley. 



SCELOPORUS OCCIDENTALIS, Baird & Girard. 



The Western Fence Lizard. 



Sceloporus oceidenlalis, B. Si G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phiiad. VI, 1852, 175 — Girard, U. S. Expl. Kxpcd. Herpe- 



tology, 383, pi. xix, fig. 8—14. 

 S. frontalis ? B. & G. in the same works. 



Sp. Ch. — Cephalic plates rugose; anterior nearly equal to the vortex plate. One or two unequal lorals; temporal scales 

 small keeled and acuminated. Preanals moderate,, rounded, sub-emarginatcd; post-anil small, smooth, subtruncated, sub- 

 emarginated. Posterior surface of thighs covered with minute lanceoldted and keeled scales. 



Differs from S. uiii/it/n( us, Witgm, of the eastern States, chiefly in its larger and rougher dorsal scales, while the abdominal 

 are smoother. The blue abdominal patches are also wider apart, and of different shape. 



I first met with this little lizard on the western border of the Great Columbia plains, about 

 2,000 feet above the sea, on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountains. It frequented the 

 pine trees, and did not occur on the open plain. I again met with them at the Pisquouse 

 river, about latitude 48°, and at about the same elevation. In agility and grace, as well as in 

 colors, it is precisely like its eastern congener. I obtained one also on the edge of the plain 

 near Steilacoom west of the Cascade mountains, where it is not uncommon; but I never saw 

 it west of the Coast range, in the damper and cooler climate. — C. 



Color. — Back, wood brown, tinged with greenish and ash gray, and spotted with triangular 

 waved markings, on each side of the median line, of darlc brown. At the dorsal median line 

 these approach so nearly to each other on the opposite sides as to give, at a little distance, the 

 appearance of waved transverse bars, extending entirely across the back. Each of these bars 

 is bordered by a narrow margin of a greenish gray tint, resembling in color the pale mildew 

 of new cheese. 



Belly ivliite, bordered on each side by a steel blue streak one inch long, one quarter of an inch 

 wide; its inner border one line in width, black. Outer border of said streak greenish blue. A 

 patch of steel blue, divided on the throat hy a narrow white line, on the median line. 



