SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES. 131 
Colour (in life}: — Usually ashy gray variously striped with darker and 
lighter; a series of vertical white lines frequently present upon the flanks. The 
colour may change to brown of varying intensity with white or gray vermicu- 
lations. Lower surfaces white. 
Dimensions: — Total length 198 mm. 
Tip of snout to vent 70 mm. 
Vent to tip of tail 128 mm. 
Width of head 12 mm. 
Fore leg 33 mm. 
Hind leg 58 mm. 
By most authorities this lizard has been included in Anolis but a careful 
examination of the cephalic squamation reveals many very peculiar character- 
istics, while the transverse gular fold in place of the dewlap is in itself a character 
of full generic value. The genus Deiroptyx, then, erected by Fitzinger ( Syst. 
Rept., 1843, p. 66) and based upon this species alone, becomes available for 
use as noted by Stejneger (loc. cit., p. 268). 
No Cuban lizard has more interesting and unusual habits than has this 
one. While it is not remarkable to find it upon outcrops of limestone rocks 
at some distance from water, yet this is not its characteristic habitat. It 
usually frequents the boulders and tree-trunks along water courses of consid- 
erable size and when disturbed it springs at once into the water there to dive 
and swim actively below the surface, and to hide in some nook or cranny until 
the danger has passed. It can run upon the surface of the water after the 
manner of many other iguanids, notably Basiliseus, Laemanctus and some 
species of Anolis. Its form, resembling a miniature Caiman as well as its 
readily taking to water, have given it its common name in part of western Pinar 
del Rio. 
Deiroptyx vermiculata is not widely distributed in Cuba. It has a limited 
range, apparently within the western Province of Pinar del Rio. Gundlach 
observed it only on the banks of the Rio Taco Taco and the Rio Santa Cruz. 
Palmer and Riley while collecting for the U. 8. National Museum in 1900 found 
it abundant about streams near San Diego de los Bafios. The various trips 
of the senior author made in recent years with Prof. Carlos de la Torre, Mr. 
W. 8. Brooks, Senor V. J. Rodriguez, and others has yielded a number of speci- 
mens from Mendoza, Guane, the Valley of Luis Lazo, Sumidero, and other 
localities in the extreme western districts of the Island. 
