13. PHRYNOSOMA 397 



The upper surfaces are variously tinted with yellow, 

 brown, red, gray, or slate. A large brown patch occupies 

 each side o the neck. On the back are undulate cross- 

 bands or large blotches of dark brown, usually edged pos- 

 teriorly with white or yellow. Similar markings may be 

 seen on the tail. The keels of many of the large dorsal 

 tubercles are dark brown. The head is yellowish, usually 

 dotted with brown, its larger spines are sometimes reddish. 

 The lower surfaces are yellow or yellowish white, uniform 

 or mottled with slate or gray. All markings are usually 

 more distinct in young than in the old, but are very variable 

 in both, the intensity of coloring depending very greatly 

 upon the color of surrounding objects, and changing in the 

 same individual in the course of a very few minutes. 



Base of fifth to end of 

 fourth toe 5 7 10 14 13 16 



Distribution. This lizard occupies a much larger area 

 in California than does P. b. blainvillii. Intergradation 

 between the two occurs in central Los Angeles County. 

 P. b. jrontale ranges thence north at least to Placer and 

 Napa counties. Like P. b. blainvillii, it is nearly confined 

 to the territory west of the deserts. It has been collected in 

 Los Angeles (five miles south from Neenach at 4000 feet, 

 Elizabeth Lake in Antelope Valley, upper Tujunga Canyon 

 at 4500 feet, San Francisquito Canyon, intergrading with 

 P. b. blainvillii between the two localities last named and 



