220 DR. H. GADOW ON MEXICAN [June 6, 
the Portuguese Blanws cinereus they soon became flabby from 
evaporation, but they soon swelled up again when the sand was 
moistened. 
To split these creatures into three genera is ridiculous. But it 
is very interesting that the specimens from the only three localities 
known differ in the number of femoral pores, the length of the 
tail, and in the reduction of the number of the fingers and claws. 
C. canaliculatus.—Fifth finger very small, clawless; three pores 
on either side in front of the enlarged preanal scales; tail twice 
as long as the head. Nasal plates widely separated. 
Specimen in Berlin Museum...... Right hand 1.2.3.4.0; Left 1.2.3.4.0 
British Museum I.............00006. 49 og bso SodicOs 2) Loto @o4h.@ 
s rep WT mean, ohne tt eee eMC SEW A Orgies RalbeOn OpeAmmO 
OV Balsas Uses tee Ma tiyasite nea. iss pele sScdiaOeee  VleGodaan & 
PT elie, BPE. Mes. GAN, CATE, OU COURS. ARBs" FRR BROS aay 
35 Pi OU Ee ee toeeSaneneane cubic ecamt er le iodotin®e mle Ho Ss dhow 
(Fifth finger on both hands well-developed in Balsas If. and III.) 
©. biporus (Huchirotes biporus Cope).—13 specimens in Smith- 
sonian Institute, from La Paz in Lower California; said also to 
be common at Cape Lucas. 
According to Cope, with tail twice as long as the head, five 
digits all clawed, with only one pore on either side, nasal plates 
nearly in contact in front. 
C. tridactylus (Hemichirotes tridactylus Duges). One specimen 
from Teepan, near Acapulco. ‘Tail slightly longer than the head ; 
only three digits, all with claws; a pair of pores on either side ; 
nasal plates widely separated. 
It is remarkable that Ohirotes, the least reduced member of the 
family, is the only Mexican representative of this presumably 
ancient group. Rhinewra of Florida has been found in the 
Oligocene of South Dakota, whereby the former range is extended 
considerably to the north. It is very difficult to imagine how 
Chirotes, a helpless digger, without any chance of travelling, bound 
to sandy soil, has managed to survive, unless we assume that it is 
really a coast-form. Living in dunes, as it does at Cape Lucas, 
Lower California, it may have ascended the Basin of the Balsas, 
which river, from its mouth far into Guerrero, is bordered by 
many sand-covered ledges. 
The arenicolous Chirotes has retained its fore-limbs, which, 
although short, are rather well-developed, while those genera 
which live in humus and rich soil have lost the limbs as usual. 
The natives had no proper name for these little creatures, but 
described them as ‘‘culebritas con manitas.” 
Réswmé of the Distribution of Mexican Lacertilia. 
Geckonide.—Chiefly Antilles, North-western South America 
and adjoining Central America. 
Hublepharide.—North-western Mexico and Mexican Tierra 
Caliente. 
