18. CNEMIDOPHORUS 489 



occurs there, the original record by Mr. Rivers probably 

 being erroneous. 



Habits. — This species usually is found under stones and 

 pieces of wood. It probably is more or less nocturnal in its 

 habits, but Mr. Slevin and I observed it actively hunting in 

 bright sunlight on San Nicolas Island. 



Family 8. TEIID^ 

 This family contains a large number of American lizards 

 of various forms and scaling. They are most closely re- 

 lated to the Lacertid^ of the Old World. The tongue is 

 slender and ends in two long, smooth points. The head is 

 covered with large, regular plates (except in the South 

 American Callopis(es). An ear-opening is usually present. 

 Eyelids are rarely wanting. Femoral and preanal pores 

 may be either present or absent. The limbs are rudi- 

 mentary in some members of the group. Two genera have 

 been found in western North America. 



Synopsis of Genera 

 a. — Two frontoparietal plates. 



Cnemidophorus. — p. +89. 

 a.' One frontoparietal plate. 



Verticaria. — p. 5 51. 



Genus 18. Cnemidophorus 



Cnemidofhorus Wagler, Syst. Amph., 1830, p. 154- (type, murinus). 



There are four pentadactyle limbs. The head-plates 

 are large, except the occipitals, which are small and irregu- 

 lar. There are two frontoparietal plates. The back and 

 sides are covered with small, smooth, granular scales. The 

 ventral plates are large, and arranged in both transverse and 

 longitudinal series. The legs and tail are very long, the 



