AMPHIBIA AND REPTILIA OF COLORADO 7 1 



General color gray or greenish gray to brovmish yellow; two rows 

 of about twenty dark, irregular spots on each side of the back, these 

 spots more or less confluent on the tail; many small light spots dor- 

 sally; ventral parts whitish; two or three dark blue or black spots 

 on each side of the abdomen just back of the fore-hmb. 



Range, that of the genus. 



Colorado specimens.— University Museum: Denver, May 14, 1905 (90 mm.), 

 H. Markman, No. 214; Lajunta, July, 1905 (4 specimens, 95-110 mm.), G. S. 

 Dodds, No. 215; Bovdder, September, 1907 (150 mm.), F. Rohwer, No. 216; 

 eight miles east of Platteville, June 18, 191 2 (9 specimens, 85-95 mm.), J. Hender- 

 son and R. M. Butters, No. 217; Colorado State Historical and Natural History 

 Museum: Denver, 1872 (75 mm.), J. W. LaMunyon; Denver, 1878 (2 specimens, 

 80 and 90 mm.), H. G. Smith; Denver, 1900 (2 specimens, 70 and 80 mm.), W. C. 

 Ferril; Denver, 1903 (2 specimens, 80 and 85 mm.), W. C. Ferril; Wray, Sep- 

 tember 23, 1903 (100 mm.), H. G. Smith; Barr, June 13, 1906 (105 mm.), A. H. 

 Felger; State Teachers' College Museum: Trinidad, A. E. Beardsley; reported 

 common all along the foothills from Trinidad to the Wyoming line by Beardsley. 



Genus PHRYNOSOMA Wiegmann 



Phrynosoma Wiegmann, Isis, p. 367, 1828. 



Body stout, depressed, and somewhat arched in the mid-dorsal 

 region; head bearing several bony processes or "horns," particularly in 

 the temporal and occipital regions; lateral margins of the body with 

 one or two rows of large, elevated scales; scales of the back irregular 

 in size and shape, many pointed, keeled and elevated; scales of the 

 ventral surface smaller and more regular; a distinct gular fold; femoral 

 pores present; no abdominal ribs; viviparous or oviparous. 



To this genus and the following one, Anota, belong the "Horned 

 Toads" of North America. This term is, however, incorrect, as these 

 queer little animals are true lizards and should be known as Horned 

 Lizards. In spite of their pecuHar and rather offensive appearance 

 they are quite harmless. When disturbed they often swell up and 

 assume a defensive attitude. If sufficiently irritated they will squirt 

 several drops of blood from just above the eyes.' This blood may be 

 driven a distance of almost a foot. Because of this pecuhar habit 

 many strange stories are told of these animals and they are commonly 



■ Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XV, pp. 375-378, 1892. 



