Amphibians and Reptiles from Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands . 7 



species appears to be less variable than many of this genus. Although Cope 

 states that the body '4s without granulations above, below, or upon the sides, " 

 all my examples show them on the lower hind femoral region. As Meerwarth's 

 figure lacks detail I have made the follomng note. In this species the color- 

 pattern is largely constant. Sometimes the blotches or vermiculations are 

 larger and fewer on the back anteriorly, or they may vary in being finer and 

 more numerous, though the general appearance is similar. 



REPTILIA. 



GEKKONID.^S. 

 Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnes). 



Two from the Virgin Islands. According to Dr. Barbour,^ it was probably 

 introduced into the West Indies. 



Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis Stejneger. 



Three from the Arecibo Road, Porto Rico, about the 70-kilometer post, 

 on June 14; these are similar to Dr. Stejneger 's figure,^ except that the black 

 scapular blotch has in each example two small pure white spots. Two speci- 

 mens have the dark spots as more or less broken longitudinal bands, though 

 in the remaining example a more speckled appearance is seen and the spots 

 are smaller. 



Though only the above examples were secured, this gecko was probably 

 abundant at this locality. They were found under stones and sticks in moist 

 places. Their tails were very brittle and were easily broken off. 



SCINCIDvE. 

 Mabuya sloanii (Daudin) . 



Two from the Virgin Islands. One shows at least two pairs of chin shields 

 in contact. Color in alcohol largely grayish olive above, paler or whitish 

 below. From each side of the fronto-nasal plate a brown band extends back, 

 including the upper eyelid, and becomes obscure toward the groin, though on 

 front of body in strong contrast, due largely to darker brownish marginal lines. 

 Another band of similar color extends from the nostrils back, including eye, 

 over ear and shoulder, and fades out on groin. Limbs above with obscure 

 brownish spots. Snout to vent 76 mm., tail 66 mm. 



This species is now rare in Porto Rico, a circumstance believed to be due to 

 the mongoose. 



IGUANID^. 

 Anolis cuvieri Merrem. 



One from Utuado, 405 mm. in total length. Color in life with iris brown- 

 ish yellow, a ring of pure yellow next to the black pupil. Scales around eye 

 yellow, barred with black. These colors seem to hold even when the animal 

 changes color from black to green and yellow. In alcohol the color is largely 

 uniform bluish above and paler below. Pale crescent below eye. 



Known to the natives as "the devil." They are afraid of this species and 

 believe that it is deadly poisonous. Mr. Silvester informs me it is rare and 

 occurs along water-courses. He saw another example along the main course 

 of the Arecibo River at Utuado, but was unable to capture it. 



'Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., xliv. No. 2, 1914, p. 222. 

 2Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 605, fig. 52. 



