116 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
yellow stripes running lengthwise on the body; the tail of such 
specimens is usually a brilliant blue,—hence the name. Upon 
approaching maturity the body assumes a brownish tinge, the 
stripes become less distinct, and upon the males disappear al- 
together, while the head takes on a tinge of red. The females 
retain the stripes, although they are less distinct against the 
brown body-color than in young specimens; the head of the 
female is much narrower than the male, while the red tinge upon 
the same is never so brilliant as in the other sex. The complete 
color transformation takes about four vears. 
FIG. 19. BLUE-TAILED LIZARD, YOUNG AND ADULT 
The female of this species deposits her eggs, to the number of 
about a dozen, under the bark of a decaying tree, and:coils about 
the edge of the cluster in serpentine fashion until they hatch. 
Large specimens of the red-headed form measure eight inches in 
length. In the South the species grows much larger and is very 
abundant. The adult males are called ‘ Scorpions.”’ 
Range: Southern Massachusetts to Florida; westward to 
Texas. 
Local distribution: General in sunny openings of woods, but 
not common. 
