ZOOLOGY. 293 



were i'ound under stones, and would seem to be more in the habit of liunting their insect prey 

 on the ground than on trees or fences. Their movements were so rapid as to make it very 

 difficult to catch them, and in struggling to escape nearly all broke off part of their tails, which 

 as in other reptiles, is probably a slight loss to them, a cartilaginous growth soon supplying its 

 place. This species seems to approach nearer the cold regions than any other, as the near 

 vicinity of the perpetual snows of the Cascade mountains and the considerable elevation of 

 the valley causes a very moderate temperature, even in sinnmer, in the place where it was 

 found. 



I have seen this lizard but once since, near the mouth of the Columbia among the warm sand 

 and drift-logs on its northern bank. 



When alive the colors were light brown, with black spots; bell}', pinkish white. 



ELGARIA GRANDIS, B a i r d & G i r a r d . 



The Banded Elgoiia. 



Eliraria grandis, B. & G. U. S. Expl. Exped.Herp. p. 212, pi. XXH, fig. 1.9. 

 Sp.Ch. — Doreal scales disposed upon fifty traosveme and fourteen longitudinal series. Four unequal postnasal plate.s. Preanal 

 shields smaller than tie abdominal. Tail uearly twice the length of the body and head toKether. Above browniBh olive, 

 with eleven brown bands across the neck and back, covering one row of scales which are tipped with white. Beneath unicolor. 



Found at Fort Steilacoom by Dr. Suckley. 



SCELOPORUS OCGIDENTALIS, Baird & Girard. 



Tlte Western Fence Lizard. 



ScelopoTus occidentalis, B. & G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VI, 1852, 175. — Girard, U. S. Expl. Exped. Herpetology, 



383, pi. six, fig. 8— 14. 

 S.frontatisl B. & G. in the same works. 

 Sp. Ch. — Cephalic plates rugose; anterior nearly equal to the vertex plate One or two unequal lorals ; temporal scales small 

 keeled and acuminated. Preanals moderate, rounded, sub-emarginated ; post-anal small, smooth, subtruncated, siib-emaiginated. 

 Posterior surface of thighs covered with minute lanceolated and keeled scales 



Differs from S. undiilulus, IVicgm, of the eastern States, chiefly in its larger and rougher dorsal scales, while the abdominal 

 are smoother. The blue abdominal patches are also wider apart, and of different shape. 



I first met with this little lizard on the western border of the Great Columbia plains, about 

 2,000 feet above the sea, on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountains. It frequented the 

 pine trees, and did not occur on the open plain. I again met with them at the Pisquouse 

 "river, about latitude 48°, and at about the same elevation. In agility and grace, as well as iu 

 colors, it is precisely like its eastern congener. I obtained one also on the edge of the plain 

 near Steilacoom, west of the Cascade mountains, where it is not uncommon; but I never saw 

 it west of the Coast range, iu the damper and cooler climate. — C. 



Color. — Back, wood brown, tinged with greenish and ash gray, and spotted with triangular 

 waved markings, on each side of the median line, of darh brown. At the dorsal median line 

 these approach so nearly to each other on the opposite sides as to give, at a little distance, the 

 appearance of waved transverse bars, extending entirely across the back. Each of these bars 

 is bordered by a naiTow margin of a greenish gray tint, resembling in color the pale mill-dew 

 of new cheese. 



Belly., loMte, bordered on each side by a steel blue streak 1 inch long, | of an inch wide; its 

 inner border one line in width, black. Outer border of said streak greenish blue. A patch of 

 steel blue, divided on the throat by a narrow white line, on the median line. 



