REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 75 



ulatioii of from four to seven accumiiiate scales. Dorsal 

 scales equal-sized, keeled, pointed, larger than ventrals, 

 and arranged in nearly parallel longitudinal rows. 

 Scales on sides similar to those of back, but directed 

 obliquely upward. No longitudinal dermal folds and 

 no transverse fold on throat. Superior surfaces of 

 limbs provided with keeled scales. Posterior surface of 

 thigh covered with small, smooth scales. Ventrals 

 smooth, but usually bicuspid. Caudal scales very much 

 larger than dorsals, keeled and strongly pointed. 

 Femoral pores varying in number from twelve to twenty 

 on each thigh. Eleven to seventeen dorsal scales equal- 

 ing length of shielded part of head. Number of scales 

 in a row from interparietal plate to a line connecting 

 posterior surfaces of thighs varying from forty-five to 

 sixty-six; average in seventy-five specimens, fifty-five 

 and one-half. Males with enlarged postanal plates. 



The general color above is brown, olive, bluish or 

 greenish gray, with one dorsal and two lateral series of 

 closely set brown spots on each side. These spots have 

 dark posterior and lateral edges, are usually larger and 

 more distinct in females and young than in adult males, 

 and are often more or less confluent, forming longitudi- 

 nal bands separated by narrower bands of the lighter 

 ground color. The head has no definite cross-lines, but 

 the upper lateral band or series of spots is continued 

 along the temple. The tail is very differently marked 

 in different specimens, but usually shows traces of light 

 and dark rings. Males have a large blue blotch, some- 

 times bordered internally with black, on each side of 

 the belly, and the throat usually more or less washed 

 with blue, which has a tendency to appear in narrow 

 oblique lines. Females often lack the blue of the throat 

 and sides of belly, but this color is sometimes present 



