12. SCELOPORUS 275 



pentangular. Gulars small, smooth, imbricate, usually 

 emarginate posteriorly, smaller than ventrals. Ear-open- 

 ing large, slightly oblique, with an anterior denticulation of 

 from four to seven acuminate 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 longitud- 

 inal 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, or with 

 a small central patch of keeled ones. Ventrals smooth, but 

 usually bicuspid. Caudal scales very much larger than dor- 

 sals, keeled and strongly pointed. Femoral pores varying in 

 number from nine to 16 on each thigh; average, 13. Nine 

 to 1 3 dorsal scales equaling 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 42 to 

 53; average in 40 specimens, 47.8. Males with enlarged 

 postanal plates. 



The general color above is brown, olive, bluish, or green- 

 ish gray, with one dorsal and two lateral series of brown 

 blotches on each side. These blotches have dark posterior 

 and lateral edges, and often are more or less confluent, 

 forming dark, longitudinal, more or less interrupted, bands, 

 separated by light stripes on the mid-dorsal, dorso-lateral, 

 and lateral regions. Of these light stripes the mid-dorsal 

 is broadest and least distinct. The dark dorsal markings of 

 the two sides merge on the base of the tail forming a brown 

 band or series of spots between the continuations of the 

 dorso-lateral light stripes. The markings of the body are 

 continued onto the neck and temporal regions. The lower 

 surfaces are yellowish white. Males have a large blue 

 blotch, sometimes bordered internally with black, on each 

 of the belly, and the throat usually more or less washed 



