14. GERRHONOTUS 447 



Distribution. The Mountain Alligator Lizard has been 

 found only at high altitudes (5,000 to 9,000 feet) on the 

 western and eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada of Cali- 

 fornia. 



It has been taken in Kern (at 6,500 feet on Mount Breck- 

 enridge), Tulare (Jackass Meadow at 7,750 feet, North 

 Fork of Kern River, Soda Springs at 7,200 feet, Sequoia 

 National Park at 7,000 feet, Giant Forest, Mineral King at 

 8,800 feet, East Fork of Kaweah River at 8,500 and 8,800 

 feet, Hot Springs), Inyo (Onion Valley, Kearsarge Pass), 

 Fresno (South Fork Kings River, Kings River Canyon), 

 Mariposa (Yosemite Valley, Merced Grove, Chinquapin, 

 Porcupine Flat, Merced River), Tuolumne, El Dorado 

 (Fyffe at 3,700 feet), Placer (Tahoe City), and probably 

 Plumas (Quincy), counties. 



Gerrhonotus Dolmen occurs in the coniferous forests of 

 the Canadian and Transition zones, above the range of 

 Gerrhonotus scincicauda webbii which, in the Sierra Nevada, 

 is restricted to the chaparral belt of the lower levels. 



Habits. This species is common near the Little Kern 

 River. Here it hides behind the loose bark of the great 

 pines. Like other members of the genus, it usually moves 

 slowly and seems to have much curiosity. Near the Yosem- 

 ite Valley it mates about the middle of June. 



