578 9. SCINCID.^ 



bricate. A distinct ear-opening is present. Gular and lateral 

 dermal folds are absent. The tail is moderately long. 



Synopsis of Species. 

 a. — Not more than 26 rows of scales encircling middle of 

 body. 



b. — Interparietal larger than a frontoparietal, separating 

 parietals; tail of young usually blue. 



P. skiltonianus. — p. 578. 



b'. — Interparietal smaller than either frontoparietal, not 

 separating parietals; tail salmon-color. 



P. lagunensis. — p. 587. 



a'. — Twenty-eight or more rows of scales encircling middle 

 of body. 



bb. — Length of hind limb more than two and a half times 

 in distance from snout to anusj whitish spots on jaws 

 and side of head, if present, not in sharp contrast 

 with ground color, latter not blackish; young with 

 longitudinal light lines. 



P. obsoletus. — p. 589. 



bb'. — Length of hind limb not more than two and a half 

 times in distance from snout to anus; a series of 

 whitish spots along upper and lower jaws and side 

 of head in sharp contrast with the blackish ground 

 color; young without longitudinal light lines. 



P. guttulatus.— p. 59+. 



130. Plestiodon skiltonianus (Baird & Girard) 



Western Skink 



Plate 60 



Plestiodon skiltonianum Baird & Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 Vol. VI, 1852, p. 69 (type locality, Oregon); Baird & Girard, 

 Stansbury's Exped. Gt. Salt Lake, 1853, p. 349, pi. IV, figs. 4-6; 

 Baird, Pac. R. R. Surv., Vol. X, Pt. 4, 1859, p. 10, pi. IX, fig. 

 3; Grinnell & Camp, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, No. 10, 



