April, 1908. Lakes Amatitlan and Atitlax — Meek. 193 



and the two preceding apparently do not occur on the shores of 

 Lake Atitlan. This lizard is very abundant along streams in the 

 lower lands of western Guatemala. 



Family Telldie. 



Ameiva undulata Gray. 



This small lizard is quite plentiful on the shores of both of 

 these lakes. It seldom, if ever, enters the water, and is too small 

 to be of any economic value. 



Family CinoNteridit*. Turtles. 



Cinosternum cruentatum Dumeril. Turtle; Tortuga. 



The only turtle I saw at Lake Amatitlan was an individual of 

 this species which I purchased of a native at Laguna. So far as 

 I could learn, turtles are very scarce in this region. The specimen 

 here listed agrees well with the accounts of the species as given by 

 Dr. Gunther and Dr. Boulenger. Length of carapace 122 mm., 

 width, 85 mm., depth, 62 mm. ; length of anterior lobe of plastron 

 42 mm., of middle lobe 27 mm., of posterior lobe 45 mm.; pos- 

 terior margin of plastron with a slight notch. 



The members of the family to which this species belongs are 

 regarded as inferior for food. The introduction of one or more 

 turtles would increase the food supply of the lake, and in no way 

 be harmful to the fishes now there, or to the fishes introduced. 



THE WATER BIRDS OF LAKES AMATITLAN AND ATITLAN. 



The following list of water birds includes only such species as 

 were collected, by Mr. Barber or by Dr. Dearborn, or positively 

 identified by other means, during a brief visit to these lakes in 

 March and April, 1906. It may be well to state in this connection 

 that both of these lakes are centers for all bird life, at least during 

 the dry season, when the surrounding mountains are without 

 green vegetation, and the short alluvial valleys alone furnish 

 green foliage and food for all classes of birds. Most of the species 

 here named are undoubtedly to be found in this region only in 



