40 University of California Publications in Zoology (Vou. 9 
scales are present on the central part of the forehead in blain- 
villei, whereas the scales of this region are about equal in size 
in frontale. These characters are all very superficial and can 
hardly be considered sufficient to separate species. They indi- 
cate rather, a differentiation due to geographical location and 
are therefore better classed as subspecies, under the names P. 
blainviller blainville: and P. blainvillei frontale. The fact that 
these two forms intergrade along the line of their contact greatly 
strengthens this idea. 
OSTEOLOGY 
But two minor differences from the osteology as described 
under Phrynosoma blainvillei blainvillei were found in this sub- 
species. In frontale the occipital horns are usually narrower and 
ofttimes more erect. In the skull studied, the pineal foramen, 
instead of piercing the parietal, is at the coronal suture. Both 
of these characters vary so widely that they cannot be considered 
diagnostic. The pineal foramen in blainvillei is separated from 
the coronal suture by only a very narrow strip of bone. As the 
lizard grows older and the bones become more strongly ossified 
this differentiation may take place. 
Hasits 
Several articles on the ability of this horned lizard to ‘‘eject 
blood’’ have been written. Vernon Bailey, collecting one of 
these lizards at Kernville, California, had it eject blood from 
each of its eyes (Stejneger, 1893). Later the same specimen 
became the subject of an article by O. P. Hay (1892). Dr. Van 
Denbureh (1897) has recorded the experience of a Mr. Denton 
with a P. blainvillei frontale, and adds that he has twice wit- 
nessed the strange performance. 
P. b. frontale is the only known horned lizard which inhabits 
the forest belt. In the vicinity of Pacific Grove, Monterey 
County, it has been found within the forest shade, closely imitat- 
ing in color the carpet of pine needles. 
