S78 9. SCINCIDJE 



bricate. A distinct ear-opening is present. Gular and lateral 

 dermal folds are absent. The tail is moderately long. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



a. Not more than 26 rows of scales encircling middle of 

 body. 



b. Interparietal larger than a frontoparietal, separating 

 parietalsj tail of young usually blue. 



P. skiltonianus. p. 578. 



b 2 . Interparietal smaller than either frontoparietal, not 

 separating parietalsj tail salmon-color. 



P. lagunensis. p. 587. 



a*. Twenty-eight or more rows of scales encircling middle 



of body. 



bb. Length of hind limb more than two and a half times 

 in distance from snout to anusj whitish spots on jaws 

 and side of head, if present, not in sharp contrast 

 with ground color, latter not blackish ; young with 

 longitudinal light lines. 



P. obsoletus. p. 589. 



bb*. Length of hind limb not more than two and a half 

 times in distance from snout to anus 5 a series of 

 whitish spots along upper and lower jaws and side 

 of head in sharp contrast with the blackish ground 

 color, young without longitudinal light lines. 



P. guttulatus. p. 594. 



130. Plestiodon skiltonianus (Baird & Girard) 



WESTERN SKINK 



Plate 60 



Plestiodon skiltonianum BAIRD & GIRARD, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 Vol. VI, 1852, p. 69 (type locality, Oregon); BAIRD & GIRARD, 

 Stansbury's Exped. Gt. Salt Lake, 1853, p. 349, pi. IV, figs. 4-6; 

 BAIRD, Pac. R. R. Surv., Vol. X, Pt. 4, 1859, p. 10, pi. IX, fig. 

 3; GRINNELL & CAMP, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, No. 10, 



