68 PHRYNOSOMACORONATA. 



surface is silvery-grey, with a few indistinct dusky bars, corresponding with those 

 of the upper surface. The anterior extremities are Ught grey above, with dusky 

 bars and bands, and silvery-white below. The posterior extremities are coloured 

 like the anterior, both above and below. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 10 lines; of body, from head to vent, 3 inches 2 

 lines; of tail, 1 inch 11 lines; of thigh, 11 lines; of leg, 9 lines; of tarsus and toes, 

 11 lines; total length, 5 inches 11 lines. 



Habits. The Phrynosoma coronata is similar in its habit, as I am informed by 

 Mr. Nuttall, to the Phrynosoma cornuta. He says its food is invariably insects, 

 and that he has kept them for months in confinement; that they would conceal 

 themselves about his person or about his apartment, but make their appearance 

 at certain times for their food, which they took readily from the hand. When in 

 their wild state they move with great rapidity among the bushes; but when they 

 find they cannot escape by their swiftness, they remain perfectly quiet, and suffer 

 themselves to be made prisoners without resistance. 



Geographical Distribution. The Phrynosoma coronata inhabits the country 

 south of the Oregon river. 



General Remarks. This animal was first described by Blainville, from a 

 specimen found in California by Botta; his description is very good, but the 

 figure accompanying it is faulty in many respects, especially in having the 

 supercihary ridge represented with several prominent spines, and in wanting the 

 peculiar serrated margin of the tail. Audubon next gave a good figure of it in 

 his beautiful work on Ornithology, under the name Agama orbicularis, from a 

 specimen furnished him by Nuttall. 



