Vol. XI] VAN DENBURGH-SLEVIN— AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 63 



often run across large open spaces, depending on their speed 

 to escape an enemy. A specimen was found in the stomach of 

 a captured red racer, Coluber Hagellum picens. A Cnemido- 

 phorus maximus was seen under a pile of brush holding a 

 Verticaria in its mouth. When captured this Cnemidophorus 

 was found to have crushed the skull of its victim in its power- 

 ful jaws. The local name of this species is Largartija. 



In eighty-seven specimens examined the femoral pores vary 

 from eighteen to twenty-eight; being 18 once, 19 twice, 20 

 fifteen times, 21 thirty-one times, 22 forty-five times, 23 thirty- 

 one times, 24 thirty-seven times, 25 eight times, 26 three times, 

 and 28 once. 



50. Verticaria hyperythra hyperythra (Cope) 



This species was found to be the most abundant lizard of the 

 Cape Region, where it was collected at La Paz, Todos Santos, 

 Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Agua Caliente, Buena 

 Vista, San Bartolo, San Antonio, Triunfo, San Pedro, Guamu- 

 chil Rancho, twenty-five miles north of the Cape, and in the 

 foothills of the Sierra Laguna opposite Todos Santos. It 

 ranged from sea-level to 1400 feet, and was found abundant 

 throughout the lower levels among fallen cacti and the numer- 

 ous brush heaps. The native name is Waco. This little lizard 

 keeps well under cover, seldom coming into the open, and moves 

 along with a short jerky motion a few inches at a time, until 

 becoming alarmed when it makes off at top speed for the dense 

 undergrowth. A pair were found mating at San Pedro the 

 first week in July. 



One hundred and sixty-eight specimens were examined to 

 show a character used to separate this subspecies from the 

 northern form V . h. beldingi, viz., the separation of the supra- 

 oculars from the medial head plates. The following table is 

 given to show the distinction between the two subspecies. It 

 will be seen that in the series from the Cape Region the separa- 

 tion and partial separation occurs more often at the third supra- 

 ocular, while in V. h. beldingi it usually is at the second. 



The femoral pores in fifty specimens vary from thirteen to 

 twenty; being 13 three times, 14 ten times, 15 nineteen times, 

 16 thirty-one times, 17 twenty-one times, 18 thirteen times, 19 

 twice, and twenty once. 



