1897.] 



tilZAKDS OP THE GENUS SCELOPOJftgS. 



49& 



1882, 



Sceloporus rufidorsum, Yarrow, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. v. 

 p. 442. 



Head-sbields smootli ; frontal transversely divided and in con- 

 tact with the interparietal ; latter shield as long as broad or a little 

 broader than long, much larger than the parietals ' ; a series of 

 four or five large, transverse supraoculars, bordered inwards by an 

 incomplete series of scales, the last two or three shields being in 

 contact with the frontoparietals and parietals, and separated from 

 the supraciliaries by one or two series of scales ; two canthal 

 scales ; three to five long pointed scales on the anterior border of 

 the ear, much larger than those in front of them. 



Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, at least as long as 

 broad, keeled, mucronate, entire or slightly denticulate, forming 

 parallel longitudinal series ; 28 to 30 scales between the inter- 

 parietal shield and the base of the tail ; 5 or 6 scales, taken in the 

 middle of the back, correspond to the length of the shielded part 

 of the head. Lateral scales keeled, graduating into the dorsals 

 and ventrals, directed obliquely upwards and backwards. Ventral 

 scales small, smooth, bicuspid. 32-36 scales round the middle of 

 the body. 



The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear or a little beyond ; 

 tibia longer than the shielded part of the head; the distance 

 between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth 

 equals the distance between the end of the snout and the cervical 

 pit. 17 to 22 femoral pores on each side. 



Caudal scales as large as dorsals, strongly mucronate. Males 

 with enlarged postanal scales. 



Olive above, with a more or less distinct yellowish or reddish 

 stripe along each side of the back ; more or less distinct dark bars 

 may be present across the back. Yellowish white beneath ; males 

 with a bluish-black band along each side of the middle line of 

 the belly, and extending on the anterior face of the thigh ; a blue- 

 black vertical bar in front of the arm, sometimes connected with 

 the ventral band ; posterior part of the throat blue-black. Females 

 uniform yellowish white beneath. 



Hab. Lower California and neighbouring islands (Ceros, Santa 

 Margarita, and Magdalena). 



^ Cope says : " Parietal scales wider than the interparietal." This is no 

 doubt a lapsus, as may be seen by comparing Stejneger's figure, drawn from the 

 type specimen. 



