38 



Lacei'ia Inmbrxcoides, Shaw, Nat. Misc., vi ; Gener. Zool., iii, 311. 



Lacerta mexicana, Donnd., Zool. Beit., iii, 135. 



Lacerta sulcafa, Suckow, Thier., iii, 147. 



Chalcldes projms, Daud., Hist. Eept., iv, 372, pi. 58, f. 4. 



Chamwsaura propu^, Schneid., Hist. Ampbib., ii, 211. 



Bimanus propus, Oppel., Die Ordnung. Famil. und Gattung. Eept., 46. 



Chirote mexicain, Boey de Saint Vincent, R6sum6 d'Erpet., 141, pi. 27, f. 1. 



Chirotes lumlrlcoides, Fi^em., Pb. Zool., ii, 278. — Eichw., Zool. Spec. Koss. Polon., iii, 



180.— James, Long's Exped, to tbe Rocky Mts., i, 484.— Harlan, Jour. Acad. 



Nat. Sci. Pbila., vi, 55.— Gray, Cat. Tort., 1844,74 ; Cat. Shield Rept., pt. ii, 34. 

 Chirotes canaliculaius, DuM., Collect. Mus. Par.— Mekrem., Tent., 181.— Fitz., Neue Clas- 



sif. Eept., 53.—Qv±R., Icon. Efegne Anim. Cuv. Rept., pi. 16, f. 3.— ScniNZ, 



Naturg. und Abbild. Rept.,107, pi. 41, f. 2.— DuM. & Bib., Hist, des Rept., v, 



1839, 474.— Gray, P. Z. Soc, 1865, 446. 



Locality : La Paz, Lower California. Obtained through the agency of 

 the United States consul at La Paz. The Mexican name for this reptile 

 is ajolote, which, however, cannot be considered as specific or even gen- 

 eric, as it is applied to several species of Amphisbcenidce. I was in- 

 formed that it lives mostly underground, coming out only at night. 

 Its rudimentary eyes and the arrangement and shape of the feet, which 

 are similar to those of the mole, would suggest subterrestrial habits, as 

 would also the absence of coloring matter in its integument. The spec- 

 imen obtained in Lower California differs in no respect from the descrip- 

 tion given in Dumeril and Bibron's "Histoire des Reptiles". Eeference 

 to the above biographical notice will show that it has been extensively 

 quoted as coming from Mexico, which so far has been regarded as its only 

 habitat. The only assurance we have of its ever having been found 

 within the limits of the United States rests upon the somewhat doubtful 

 statement in " Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains". The testi- 

 mony is as follows : — " We observed, in repeated instances, several indi- 

 viduals of a singular genus of Reptiles {Chirotes, Cuv.), which in form 

 resemble short Serpents, but are more closely allied to the Lizards by 

 being furnished with two feet. They were so active that it was not 

 without some difficulty that we succeeded in obtaining a specimen. Of 

 this (as was our uniform custom when any apparently new animal was 

 presented) we immediately drew out a description. But as the specimen 

 was unfortunately lost, and the description formed part of the zoological 

 notes and observations, which were carried off by our deserters, we are 

 reduced to the necessity of merely indicating the probability of the ex- 

 istence of the Chirotes lumhricoides of naturalists within the territory of 



