12. SCELOPORUS 343 



ber o£ scales in a row from interparietal plate to a line con- 

 necting posterior surfaces of thighs varying from 27 to 32 j 

 average in 23 specimens, 29.2. Males with enlarged post- 

 anal plates. 



The color above, in adult males, is yellowish brown, be- 

 coming grayer on the hind limbs and base of the tail. Many 

 of the scales on the back are marked with grayish blue in 

 varying amount. The scales on the base of the tail and on 

 the hind limbs often are spotted with gray or bluish gray. 

 Some specimens have some scales of these regions marked 

 with dark brown. There is a longitudinal light streak along 

 the middle of the back, but no evident dorsolateral longitudi- 

 nal light band. The sides of the body are bluish gray with 

 more or less parallel, very distinct, narrow dark lines run- 

 ning in the direction of the keels of the lateral scales. 

 These lines are formed by from one to three dark brown 

 lines on each scale. The central area of each lateral scale 

 is bluish or yellowish gray. The top of the head is brown- 

 ish olive, usually without markings. There is a large black 

 blotch or collar in front of the shoulder, edged behind, and 

 sometimes in front, with pale blue of grayish yellow. The 

 anterior and ventral surfaces of the thigh and side of the 

 body are more or less black, and may be connected with the 

 shoulder patch by a black streak along the belly just external 

 to the median longitudinal stripe of yellowish white. This 

 black ventral area is more or less tinted with, replaced by, 

 or externally edged with, intense blue. The chest may be 

 yellowish white, or more or less clouded with blue or black. 

 The central gular region is blackish indigo. The upper sur- 

 faces of the limbs are brown or olive, usually with longitudi- 

 nal dark and light streaks. The tail sometimes is in- 

 definitely cross-barred above with brown and light brown or 



gray- 

 Females and some young males are much less brightly 



