422 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 48. 



found on large granite bowlders at Tallac, California, and on volcanic 

 rocks in various parts of Nevada. Along the southwest shore of 

 Pyramid Lake it was often accompanied by S. magister. Here and 

 at Derby many dark-colored individuals basked on rocks in the sun. 

 Some were almost pure black and conspicuous for a considerable 

 distance. This color vanishes so rapidly after death that dark- 

 colored individuals will assume the normal gray-brown tint in less 

 than three hours. 



Two females taken on May 24 at Reno, Nevada, held 7 and 10 

 large eggs, respectively. One taken at Tallac June 17 also contained 

 eggs. 



A young male shot at Reno May 24 had green aphids, three or 

 four large ants, and other unidentified insect fragments in its stomach. 



PHRYNOSOMA PLATYRHINOS Girard. 



Locality. — This "Horned toad" was observed in considerable 

 abundance along the lower Truckee River in Washoe County, Nevada, 

 where Cope (1883) has previously recorded it. Specimens were 

 secured from the following localities: Derby, Wadsworth, Pyramid 

 Lake Indian Agency, southwestern shore of Pyramid Lake, between 

 the Truckee River and The Willows. In addition, there are two 

 specimens in the Stanford University collection from Esmeralda 

 County, Nevada, collected by John D. Reed. Other localities within 

 the basin where it has been observed are: Virginia City, Camp " 12," 

 and Quinn River Crossing, Amos, Thousand Creek Basin, and a 

 number of points near the Pine Forest Mountains, Humboldt County, 

 Nevada. 



Status and variation. — The 28 specimens are typical of P7i. platy- 

 rhinos. There are 5 or 6 temporal horns, normally 1 occipital horn 

 which may have 1 or 2 smaller supernumerary horns about its base. 

 These may project directly backward, they may curve perceptibly 

 upward, or rarely downward toward the back. There are 2 post- 

 oculars, 3 large occipital plates, from 7 to 10 supralabials, the usual 

 number being 8 or 9, and from 4 to 7 scales on the frontal angle 

 between the can thai rows, average in 16 specimens, 5.5. The lower 

 group of spines on the neck may be continuous with the row of weakly 

 spinose gulars, or they may be abrupty separated from these, the 

 most frequent condition in this series. The tympani may be exposed, 

 partially exposed, or totally concealed by the integument, all these 

 conditions prevailing in young and adults alike. A noticeable differ- 

 ence between the adult males and females is the broad, thickened 

 base of the tail in the former. 



The color (in alcohol) is as follows: Light gray dorsally, often 

 suffused with brick red. Head generally with prominent black spots 

 in young individuals, but faded and indistinct in adults. A pair of 



