LYGOSOMA LATERALIS. 



135 



Colour. The whole superior surface of the head, body and tail, is a beautiful 

 chestnut; the inferior surface is silver-white at the throat, yellow at the abdomen, 

 and this colour extends for a short distance beyond the vent; the lower surface of 

 the tail is blue, with a tinge of grey. In the female, the yellow of the abdomen 

 is but slight, being little more than white with a yellowish tinge. A remarkable 

 lateral line of jet black begins at the snout, runs through the eye, over the 

 tjTiipanum and shoulder, along the sides of the body and over the posterior 

 extremities to beyond the middle of the tail; below this line the sides of the body 

 are dark grey. The superior surface of the extremities is darker chestnut than 

 the back; the inferior surface is light brown. 



DiJiENsioNs. Length of head, 4^ lines; length of body to vent, 1 inch 3 hnes; 

 of tail, 3 inches 2 lines: total length, 4| inches. 



Geographical Distribution. The range of the Lygosoma lateralis begins 

 certainly in North Carolina, whence I have received specimens; it extends south 

 as far as the Gulf of Mexico, and is continued westward to the Mississippi 

 river. Dr. Blanding has observed this animal at Camden, S. C; Leconte in 

 Georgia and Florida; Say, on the Missouri, and how much farther west it may 

 exist, cannot now be determined. 



Habits. The Lj'gosoma lateralis may be seen by thousands in the thick forests 

 of oak and hickory in Carolina and Georgia; they emerge from their retreats 

 after sunset, in search of small insects and worms, on which they live; yet their 

 motions are so quick, they appear and disappear so rapidly, that they might at 

 first be mistaken for crickets or other insects. Though so numerous, it is difficult 

 to secure them alive; for when approached, they conceal themselves with 

 astonishing quickness under the roots of old and decaying trees, or beneath 

 fallen leaves, or other vegetable substances; this decaying vegetable matter 

 sometimes forms a stratum several inches thick, containing numerous holes and 

 crevices, to which they can easily retreat, when they are pursued by their 

 enemies. 



