15. ANNIELLA 469 



of pigmentation increasing quite gradually and fairly regu- 

 larly with the size of the individual, so that while some 

 young specimens may be nearly as pale as some dark indi- 

 viduals of A. fulchra, all of the large specimens are of the 

 dark coloration. 



The larger specimens are colored as follows: The en- 

 tire upper surface (10, 12 or 14 rows of scales) and the 

 ventral surface of the tip of the tail are very dark Indian 

 purple. The chin and throat are lighter Indian purple, and 

 there is more or less suffusion with the same color about the 

 anus. The rest of the lower surfaces and sides are bright 

 gamboge yellow, with chromium green staining near the 

 center of the belly. The mouth is flesh-color. The labials 

 and temporals are minutely dotted with iridescent greenish, 

 silvery or bronze markings. Traces of lines may be seen on 

 some of the largest specimens, but, in a general way, the 

 smaller the specimen the more distinctly the lines are shown. 



Anniella nigra differs from A. fulchra only in colora- 

 tion, but in the light of our present knowledge of the two 

 forms it seems necessary to regard A. nigra as a local and 

 probably recently differentiated race, rather than as a mela- 

 nistic phase of A. pulchra. No intergradation has yet been 

 shown to occur in adults ,and, since the two forms occupy 

 separate areas in different faunal zones, they must be rec- 

 ognized as distinct species. 



Distribution. Anmella nigra was first described from 

 a specimen said to have been secured at San Diego, but it is 



Reproduced? 



