12. SCELOPORUS 333 



quite distinct or obscure. On either side of each light stripe 

 is a row of indefinite dark brown or black spots, the middle 

 two of which may unite to form transverse bands across the 

 back. The scales not included in the stripes or spots are 

 usually yellow and brown, but there are often on the back 

 and sides many blue scales, and these may be numerous 

 enough to form blotches or a solid, broad, blue band between 

 the stripes, and to give a bluish cast to the sides. This tend- 

 ency is most conspicuous in male specimens. Again all or most 

 of the scales on the back, sides, and neck may be margined 

 with orange or red, giving an orange appearance to the body. 

 The tail is usually rather distinctly banded above with light 

 brown, and dark brown or black. The scales on the limbs 

 are mostly yellow with brown lateral margins which connect 

 with those of adjacent scales, giving the appearance of 

 narrow longitudinal stripes. 



"In old males the pattern above may be nearly obsolete, 

 and the color very dark, the scales being blue black and 

 dark brown. When the skin is being shed the color is uni- 

 formly yellowish. 



"The under surface in females and young specimens is 

 usually light yellow. In the males there is generally a 

 narrow central band of white or yellow but on either side of 

 this are two large blotches of bright metallic blue, occasion- 

 ally with interspersed scales of bright yellow. The in- 

 dividual scales in the blue areas are generally narrowly 

 margined with black. Tail and ventral surface of limbs 

 bluish white. A bright blue spot on the gular region, that 

 may extend over the entire throat, but usually becomes 

 lighter on the anterior part. In nearly all of the specimens the 

 black collar is continued across the throat by black edgings to 

 the scales." 



