12. SCELOPORUS 287 



emarginate posteriorly, about size of ventrals. Ear-open- 

 ing large, slightly oblique, with an anterior denticulation of 

 acuminate scales. Dorsal scales nearly equal-sized, keeled, 

 pointed, about equal in size to ventrals, and arranged in 

 nearly parallel longitudinal rows. Scales on sides similar to 

 those on back, but directed obliquely upward. No longitud- 

 inal dermal folds, and no transverse gular fold on throat. 

 Superior surfaces of limbs provided with keeled scales. Pos- 

 terior surface of thigh covered with small, smooth scales. 

 Ventrals smooth, but usually biscuspid. Caudal scales usually 

 very much larger than dorsals, keeled and strongly pointed. 

 Femoral pores varying in number from 13 to 19 in each 

 thigh. About 13 to 17 dorsal scales equaling length of 

 shielded part of head. Number of scales in a row from in- 

 terparietal plate to a line connecting posterior surfaces of 

 thighs varying from 48 to 66; average in 45 specimens, 

 54.78. Males with enlarged postanal plates. 



The color above is brown, olive, bluish or greenish, with 

 one dorsal and two lateral series of undulate brown blotches 

 on each side. These blotches often have dark posterior and 

 lateral margins, are usually much more distinct in females 

 and young than in adult males, and may be more or less 

 obsolete or confluent. A dorso-lateral light longitudinal 

 stripe usually is present and a lateral one may be seen in 

 some specimens. The head has no definite cross-lines, but 

 the upper lateral band or series of spots is continued along 

 the neck and temporal region. The upper surface of the 

 tail may be unicolor or may show a series of dark spots and 

 the continuations of the dorso-lateral light stripes. In adult 

 males the lower surfaces from the thighs forward to the 

 chin are bright indigo blue, more or less blackish along the 

 middle of the belly and across the chest, sometimes with a 

 little yellowish or greenish white along the mid-ventral line. 

 In females and young the lower surfaces are yellowish white 



