320 FLORIDA REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS—LCENNBERG. vol. xvii. 



AROMOCHELYS ODORATA (Daudin). 



The musk turtle is common iu pouds aud creeks in south Florida. In 

 Fern Creek, for instance, it is abundant, and I have also found it in 

 several other places in Orange County. One of my specimens from the 

 above mentioned creek is very interesting on account of several anoma- 

 lies of the plates of the plastron. The gular plate is divided by a very 

 distinct suture and there is a pair of plates between the femoral and anal 

 plates representing the anterior portion of the anals. The plastron is 

 thus covered by 14 plates. Otherwise this specimen is typical iu color 

 and shape. 



CHELYDRA SERPENTINA (LinuaMis). 



The alligator turtle is not very common in south Florida. I know of 

 specimens from St. John's Eiver, Lake Apopka, and the neighborhood 

 of Oviedo, Orange County. As the head is very large, some ignorant 

 people call it the "loggerhead," which name properly belongs to Chelonia 

 caretta. 



SAURI. 



ANOLIS PRINCIPALIS (LiniiiBus). 



The "chameleon" is common all over south Florida. It often enters 

 the houses and frequently you can see this charming little animal climb- 

 ing on the curtains in your room. It is interesting to see them run 

 about in the sunshine and suddenly change color from brown to the 

 most resplendent emerald green and to observe the males how after 

 some nodding movement with the head they inflate the ruby colored 

 gular sac. They are very fond of running on the thistles, where they 

 readily find their way between the spines and prickles, being at the 

 same time well protected by them against their enemies. The shape of 

 the head varies considerably, but I am not able to draw any line between 

 the short-snouted and the long-snouted ones, as there are all degrees 

 of intermediates. 



SCELOPORUS UNDUE ATUS (Daudin). 



These lizards are very common in south Florida, in the pine woods and 

 among the oaks in dry places, on old fences and houses, etc. When 

 running on old burned stumps and logs in the pine woods, which used 

 to be burned every winter to get better grass for the cattle, they are 

 able to turn perfectly black. On light ground, for instance on oak 

 bark, they resume their gray color with the brown undulations on the 

 back, thus showing themselves i)0ssessed of a great faculty of adapting 

 their color to that of the surroundings. They are sometimes called 

 "alligator lizards," on account of the roughness of their scales. 



OPHISAURUS VENTRALIS (Liuuajus). 



The "glass snake" has received its name because the tail is so very 

 brittle. Ignorant people believe that the broken pieces are able to join 



