6 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. & SURVEYS-ROUTE IN CALIFORNIA. 
SCELOPORUS BISERIATUS, Nub. 
Sr. Ciiar.—S cales of the back mucli larger than those upon tlie sides. Five frontal plates in 
two rows, sometimes a small one intercalated between the two outer of the second row ; the 
middle of the anterior row largest; four internasals ; four small plates immediately behind the 
rostral; two vertical plates ; one large plate on each side of the occipital, and two in front of 
them ; posterior border of scales not denticulated. A narrow brownish vitta across the head 
near the middle of the supraciliary plates ; coloration of bead resembling that of S. undulatus ; 
light ash gray above, with a double row of dark colored spots upon the back, on each side of 
the dorsal line, extending a short distance upon the tail ; extremities ash colored above, banded 
with black ; under surface silvery gray, with two blue blotches, one on each side of the abdomen, 
and a blue blotch upon the chin; 20 femoral pores. 
Dimensions. —Length of head, neck, and body to vent, 3 inches ; of tail, 4| inches ; length of 
anterior extremities, inch ; of foot anteriorly to extremity of longest toe, -§■ inch ; of posterior 
extremity, 1 inch ; of foot, posteriorly, to extremity of longest toe, 1 inch ; total length, 7| inches. 
Habitat. —Borders of El Paso creek and in Tejon Yalley. Constantly climbing up trees, 
when scared, to a distance of twenty or thirty feet, running along the ground and up the trees 
very quickly. 
Gen. Obs. —Wants the undulating lines or bars of S. undulatus , these being replaced by the 
spots above described ; the scales upon the sides are also much smaller than those of S. undulatus. 
This species resembles very closely S. variabilis of Wiegmann, and is probably the same, not¬ 
withstanding certain differences in the description. In the absence of a good drawing, or 
authenticated specimen, we cannot pronounce, positively, whether they be the same or not, 
although inclined to the former opinion. Thus the head, according to Wiegmann, is unicolor; 
and the plates upon the head cannot be said to be ruguloso-carinatis, for they are, for the most 
part smooth in S. biseriatus. It wants the white lateral line beneath the spots which is observed 
in S. scalaris Wiegmann. The arrangement of the plates upon the head appears to characterize 
this species very well, being uniform, with unimportant exceptions, in all the specimens brought 
by Dr. Heermann. 
Yah. A. S. azureus. —Body uniformly blue above, mingled with brown, the blue color predomi¬ 
nating ; on the sides greenish, with a metallic lustre; head brownish above ; two large blue 
blotches upon abdomen, one on each side ; rest of under surface silvery white with bluish tints, 
especially about the chin ; scales large and strongly carinated, not denticulated posteriorly ; tail 
stout at the base, much less tapering than in S. biseriatus ; the plates of the head correspond 
precisely with those of the latter animal. 
Dimensions. —Length of head, neck, and body to vent, 3|- inches ; of tail, 3f inches ; of anterior 
extremities, 1 inch ; of anterior foot to extremity of longest toe, f inch ; of posterior foot to 
extremity of longest toe, 1£ inch ; total length, 6£ inches. 
Habitat. —Associated with biseriatus. 
Yar. B. Yariegatus. —Body light ash color, with transverse brownish bands and markings 
coalescing with each other, so as to give the whole a marbled appearance ; head above, ash color 
mingled with brown ; extremities ash color with transverse bands of brown; under surface 
silvery gray without bluish spots or blotches ; 17 femoral pores, remarkably large ; tail stout, 
thick at the base. 
