﻿12. SCELOPORUS 323 



keeled scales. Ventral scales much smaller than dorsals, 

 smooth, imbricate, and usually bicuspid. Tail with irregular 

 whorls of strongly keeled and very strongly pointed scales, 

 much larger and rougher above than below. Femoral pores 

 varying in number from 13 to 18 on each thigh; average, 

 15.25. Nine to 1 1 dorsal scales equaling length of shielded 

 part of head. Number of scales in a row from interparietal 

 plate to a line connecting posterior surfaces of thighs vary- 

 ing from 40 to 46; average in 50 specimens, 43. Males 

 with enlarged postanal plates. 



The color above is very dark brown or black, with each 

 scale on the body, limbs and tail marked with a central spot 

 of green, light blue, yellow, bronze, or light brown. A black 

 collar, about three scales wide, crosses the back of the neck 

 from shoulder to shoulder. This black collar often is edged 

 behind with light green, blue, yellow, or pale brown. A 

 broad dark brown or black band extends forward along the 

 dorsal surface of the neck from the collar to the head. This 

 dark band often shows some light spots on single scales, and 

 similar light spots may appear on the upper surface of the 

 head, which usually is dark brown or black. A series of 

 small solidly black spots may be present on the body along 

 each side of the back. The dark median band on the neck 

 is bordered on each side by a light green, blue or yellow 

 longitudinal line, one or two scales wide, which runs forward 

 from the collar to a point above the ear and in some speci- 

 mens is continued to the eye. Below this is a black or dark 

 brown longitudinal stripe, one or two scales wide, bordered 

 below by a second light stripe which extends from the collar 

 through the ear and along the upper lip. The lower sur- 

 faces are yellowish white, usually more or less completely 

 suffused with blue except upon the tail, although the latter 

 also may be suffused. The center of the throat and each 



