4 The West American Scientist 



dorsal, under third dorsal ray in the adult male. Pectorals 

 variable, not near extending to the ventrals or to their middle. 



Color in spirits: Male with an indistinct dusky band from eye 

 to middle of base of caudal ; all parts except top of head and 

 membrane of the caudal thickly punctate; top of head dark olive; 

 caudal membrane transparent; all the fins more or less distinctly 

 margined with dusky; a black bar at base of caudal. 



Color in life: (from Mr. Orcutt's notes) Back bright metalic 

 blue, a diamond-shaped olivaceous-green spot between the eyes ; 

 lower parts light blue or bluish; caudal brown; all the fins mar- 

 gined with black. Female: Top of head and ante-dorsal region 

 dark; traces of dark lines between two series of scales on the 

 upper part of sides. Lower half of sides with conspicuous alter- 

 nate light and dark cross bars and spots. Caudal rays with 

 brown dots; inter radial membrane with a single series of simi- 

 lar dots; dorsal of the smaller specimen with a blackish spot on 

 the middle of the last rays, margined in front and below by a 

 transparent area; a black bar at base of caudal. Ventral surface 

 plain silvery. Carl H. and Rosa S. Eigenmann. 



LIFE IN THE CHUCKAWALLA MOUNTAINS. 



The Chuckawalla mountains form a portion of the Colorado 

 Desert, occupying the northeastern part of San Diego county, 

 Cal. They are most appropriately named the Chuckawalla or 

 Lizard mountains, for lizards certainly there predominate in the 

 animal kingdom both in variety and numbers — possibly it would 

 not be desirable to lead a long life in any other form. No snakes 

 were seen during a week's stay in July this year, but probably a 

 longer sojourn would have resulted in as great a variety as I 

 should have cared for in that line. Several species of rattle- 

 snakes as well as various harmless snakes are said to reside in 

 these mountains, but they did not call on me. A single ' side 

 winder ' rattlesnake was found on the plain near the railroad 

 station as I was about to depart, but he was not anxious for a fur- 

 ther acquaintance — neither was I. 



Mountain sheep, deer and antelope are said to abound among 

 these mountains, but I only had a glimpse of a mountain sheep ; 

 one meal of venison was enjoyed — thanks to an Indian's skill 

 in hunting. Several beautiful pairs of mountain sheep horns 

 were also seen, but no opportunity presented for stealing them. 



Around a few old Indian and prospecting camps I was tan- 

 talized with finding fragments of the shell of the dry land tortoise, 

 but no sign of one in the flesh rewarding my search in all my 

 wanderings. Fish transplanted from the Dos Palmas spring 

 seemed to be doing well in the spring at the mining camp. 



Coyotes, jack rabbits and cotton tails were not rare, consider- 

 ing the number of acres they must require for support. A flock 

 of young quail near the camp during my stay are worthy of men- 

 tion. Few other birds were observed, but a few bats and night 



