The Family Xaniusiidae 



the back, but may be again discerned over the thighs. The 

 abdomen is yellowish white. 



Dimensions. Total length about 3 inches; tail, i inches. 



Distribution. One specimen known and taken at San 

 Francisquito, Sierra Laguna, Lower California. 



Henshaw's Lizard, Xantusia benshawi, Stejneger, differs 

 from the species already described in having fourteen (longitudi- 

 nal) series of plates on the abdomen. The eye is large. 



Colouration. Blackish brown above, irregularly marbled 

 with cream-coloured lines; on the tail these show a tendency 

 to form cross-bands. White beneath. 



Dimensions. Total Length 5! inches. 



Length of Tail 3! 



Distribution. The species has been found only at Witch 

 Creek, San Diego County, California in the chaparral belt. 



Habits. Concerning the habits, Mr. Van Denburgh remarks: 



"Here this species lives among the numerous granite 

 boulders, and comes out into the narrower crevices between them 

 a few minutes before dark. It is, therefore, practicable to hunt 

 for it only about fifteen or twenty minutes each day. If a bit 

 of string or a straw be introduced into the domain of one of these 

 lizards it will often be seized, the reptile apparently mistaking 

 it for some stray insect." 



Rivers' Lizard, Xantusia riversiana, Cope. The largest 

 species. Differs from the others in having two series of small 

 plates over the eye and the plates of the abdomen in sixteen 

 (longitudinal) series. 



Colouration. Gray or brown with irregularly-scattered 

 brown or black spots. On some specimens the spots fuse into 

 lines. 



Dimensions. Total Length 7 inches. 



Length of Tail 3^ 



Length of Front Limb I " 



" " Hind " ii " 



Length of Head H 



Distribution. San Clemen te, San Nicholas and Santa 

 Catalina Islands, off coast of California. 



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