468 5. ANNIELLIDM 



Anniella pulchra var. A. nigra Cope, Report U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1898, 



1900, p. 675. 

 Anniella pulchra nigra Grinnell & Camp, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, 



No. 10, 1917, p. 170. 



Descripion. — Head very slightly depressed, short, and 

 scarcely distinct from neck. Snout projecting beyond lower 

 jaw. Rostral plate very large and strongly recurved on 

 top of snout, separated there from frontal by a pair of large 

 prefrontals. Behind large frontal a single very broad 

 frontoparietal, its posterior margin notched to receive a 

 small interparietal (sometimes divided) with which it some- 

 times unites. On each side of interparietal, a small parie- 

 tal, and behind these usually two small occipitals separated 

 by an interoccipital. One large and one or more small 

 supraoculars, and a series of small superciliaries. A large 

 preocular with a smaller one below it. Nasal large, and 

 extending to margin of lip, but small first supralabial may 

 be seen below it. Second supralabial largest. Symphyseal 

 large followed by several pairs of large sublabials. Infra- 

 labials smaller than supralabials. Dorsal, lateral, ventral 

 and caudal scales all similar, slightly largest on tail and 

 smallest on neck, strongly imbricate, rounded in posterior 

 outline, and perfectly smooth. Preanal scales slightly en- 

 larged, not enlarged, or twice as long as those preceding 

 them. Number of longitudinal series of scales around body 

 varies from 28 to 32. 



The entire upper surface in large alcoholic specimens 

 is deep blackish brown, or slate, with or without indistinct 

 lines of darker brown or black corresponding in position 

 with those of A. fulchra. The chin, throat and the tip of 

 the tail are suffused with dark brown. The rest of the 

 lower surface is yellowish white, sometimes with narrow 

 brown zigzag lines between the longitudinal series of scales. 



In life, the coloration varies considerably, the intensity 



