ELGARIA FORMOSA. 209 



combined; it is subcylindrical, conical, tapering gradiiall}^ into a point; 

 the scales covering it constitute continuous chains all around, in the 

 shape of true verticils, of which fifty-six may be counted ; on the 

 upper surface, they are strongly keeled or carinated, inconspicuously 

 so on the sides, and perfectly smooth beneath. The central upper as 

 well as the central lower series present a somewhat different aspect 

 from the adjoining series : the scales in the former being broader pos- 

 teriorly than anteriorly, whilst in the latter they are posteriorly acu- 

 minated. 



The ground color is greenish-olive. The upper surface of tbe head is 

 unicolor; about twelve transverse undulating blackish bands on the 

 upper regions, somewhat interrupted laterally, so as to isolate a series 

 of patches along the back, traceable to a certain distance along the tail. 

 These bands cover but one row of scales, the tip or posterior margin 

 of which are whitish or greenish-white. The limbs are unicolor ; the 

 hind ones alone exhibiting black spots on the upper surface of the 

 thighs. The inferior surface is unicolor also. 



This species is closely allied to Qerrhonotus multicarinatus, of Blain- 

 ville=^" {Elgaria miilticarinata) , from which it differs in the structure 

 of some of the cephalic plates. Blainville himself is very brief of 

 details, and Dumeril and Bibronf do not contribute anything towards 

 a more accurate knowledge of it, so that we are left somewhat in the 

 dark upon several points of its structure. The figures accompanying 

 Blainville's Memoir exhibit some of the differences we have alluded 

 to. As a general rule, relying but little on the coloration as specific 

 character, we did not mention it here as a distinguishing feature. 



Qerrhonotus burnettii, Gray, appears to be closely allied also to this 

 species, hence to G. multicarinatus, with which it is identified by some 

 writers. 



Log. — This species inhabits the coast of Upper California. 



Plate XXIII, fig. 10, represents a profile view of Elgaria formosa, 

 size of life. 



Fig. 11, is a view of the inferior region of the body and tail. The 

 portion of the latter represented by a mere outline being missing. 



Fig. 12, represents the head, seen from above. 



* Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. lY, 1835, 289, PI. xxv, fig. 2. 

 t Erpetologie generale, Y, 1839, 404. 



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