ZOOLOGY. 
293 
were found under stones, and would seem to be more in tlie liabit of hunting tlieir insect pre_y 
on the groiuid than on trees or fences. Their movements were so rapid as to make it very 
difficult to catch them, and in struggling to escape nearly all broke off part of their tails, which 
as in other reptiles, is probably a slight loss to them, a cartilaginous growth soon supplying its 
place. This species seems to approach nearer the cold regions than any other, as the near 
vicinity of the perpetual snows of tlie Cascade mountains and the considerable elevation of 
the valley causes a very moderate temperature, even in summer, in the place where it was 
found. 
I have seen this lizard but once since, near the mouth of the Columbia among the warm sand 
and drift-logs on its northern bank. 
When alive the colors were light l)rown, with black spots; belly, pinkish white. 
ELGARIA GRANDIS, B a i r d & G i r a r d . 
Tlie Banded Klgaria. 
Elffaria grandis, B. & G. U. S. Expl. Exped.Herp. p. 212, pi. XXII, fig. 1.9. 
Sp.Ch. — Dorsal scales disposed upon fifty transverse and fourteen longitudinal series. Four unequal post nasal plates. Preana] 
shields smaller than the abdominal. Tail nearly twice the length of the body and head together. Above brownish olive, 
with eleven brown bands across the neck and back, covering one row of scales which are tipped with white. Beneath unicolor. 
Found at Fort Steilacoom by Dr. Suckley. 
SCELOPORUS OCCIDENTALIS, Baird & Girard. 
Tlie "Western Pence Liizard. 
Sceloporus occidentalism B. & G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VI, 1852, 175. — Gieard, U. S. Expl. Exped. Herpetology, 
383, pi. xix, fig. 8—14. 
S. frontalis'! B. & G. in the same works. 
Sp. Ch. — Cephalic plates rugose; anterior nearly equal to the vertex plate One or two unequal lorals; temporal scales small 
keeled and acuminated. Preanals moderate, rounded, sub-emarginated ; post-anal small, smooth, subtruncated, sub-emarginated. 
Posterior surface of thighs covered with minute lanceolated and keeled scales 
Differs from S. undulatus, IVicgm, of the eastern States, chiefly in its larger and rougher dorsal scales, while the abdominal 
are smoother. The blue abdominal patches are also wider apart, and of difforent shape. 
I first met with this little lizard on the western border of tlie Great Columbia plains, about 
2,000 feet above the sea, on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountains. It frequented the 
pine trees, and did not occur on the open plain. I again met with them at the Pisquouse 
river, about latitude 48°, and at about the same elevation. In agility and grace, as Avell as in 
colors, it is precisely like its eastern congener. I obtained one also on the edge of the plain 
near Steilacoom, west of the Cascade mountains, where it is not uncommon; but I never saw 
it west of the Coast range, in the damper and cooler climate. — C. 
Color. — Back, Avood brown, tinged Avith greenish and ash gray, and spotted Avith triangular 
Avaved markings, on each side of the median line, of dark brown. At the dorsal median line 
these approach so nearly to each other on the opposite sides as to give, at a little distance, the 
appearance of AA^aved transverse bars, extending entirely across the back. Each of these bars 
is bordered by a narrow margin of a greenish gray tint, resembling in color the pale mill-dcAV 
of ncAv cheese. 
Belly., white, bordered on each side by a steel blue streak 1 inch long, ^ of an inch Avide; its 
i7iner border one line in Avidtli, black. Outer border of said streak greenish blue. A patch of 
steel blue, divided on the throat by a narrow Avhite line, on the median line. 
