The Skinks or Smooth-scaled Lizards 



are many of the forms with minute and comparatively useless 

 limbs. 



In preparing popular descriptions of the North American 

 Skinks, the writer finds himself confronted by a difficult prop- 

 osition, as old individuals of most of the species fade to a dull, 

 olive hue with little or no trace of pattern. Most of the young 

 are vividly striped and the pattern is retained well into maturity. 



The following arrangement of the species is the writer's 

 only alternative unless he plunges into a mass of what would be to 

 the beginner, a confusing mix-up of technical details: 



Division A. Eight pale lines on a darker ground-colour. 



Many-lined Skink, Eumeces multivirgatus , (Hallowell). 

 Limbs small and far apart; the length of the hind limb applied 

 twice forward, fails to reach the base of the front limb. Twenty- 

 four to twenty-six rows of scales round the body. 



Colouration. A broad, central olive band, bordered on 

 each side by five dark brown, and four pale olive stripes; first 

 and fourth of the dark stripes the widest. 



Distribution. The Central States. Nebraska to Kansas; 

 Mississippi Valley to the Rocky Mountains. 



Division B. 5 pale lines on a dark ground-colour. 



Five-lined Skink, Eumeces quinquelineatus, (Linn.). The 

 common species of the Eastern and Central States. It attains 

 a length of ten inches. Owing to the two distinct phases of 

 colouration the young and the adult it is known under several 

 popular names. 



There are 28 34 rows of scales round the body. The body 

 is moderately stout; the length of the hind limb applied twice 

 forward reaches beyond the ear. 



Colouration. Very young specimens are jet-blac^, with 

 a vivid yellow line on the back and two similar lines on each 

 side. The central stripe forks on the head. These five stripes 

 extend to the tail, where they are lost in a shade of brilliant blue. 

 This young phase is popularly called the Blue-tailed Lizard and 

 the Five-lined Lizard; it is represented by specimens 4-5 inches 

 long. 



The Red-headed Lizard or " Scorpion " is the adult phase. 

 As the creature grows older, the black gives way to a dull brown 



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