10 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ROUTE IN CALIFORNIA. 
CnAR. 5. The body is cylindrical, without spines, or crest, or lateral groove, and covered 
with smooth scales, variable in form and size, and disposed in a quincunx. 
Ciiar. 6. The extremities and tail are covered like the body. 
This family includes a great number of genera, differing from each other in the form and 
disposition of the teeth ; in the form and number of the cephalic plates ; in the mode of opening 
of the nostrils, whether in one or more plates; in the presence or absence of eyelids, whether 
single or not; in the presence or absence of extremities, their number, &c., &c. Of this exten¬ 
sive family, only three genera have as yet been observed in the United States, viz : Plestiodon , 
Scincus* and Lygosoma , (Holbrook,) to which we add the following: 
Gen. EUMECES. Wiegmann. 
EUMECES QUADRILINEATU . Nob. 
Sp. Char. —Two supero-nasals contiguous; internasal much more extended in the lateral than 
antero-posterior direction, its internal margins in contact with the anterior frenal ; two fronto¬ 
nasal contiguous, lateral border in contact with the posterior frenal; frontal hexagonal, elongated 
broader anteriorly ; fronto-parietal rhomboidal, placed obliquely ; inter-parietal broad, with an 
acute angle in front, passing in between the fronto-parietals ; parietals oblong, quadrilateral; 
four supra-orbitars; a small naso-frenal; an anterior and posterior frenal, the latter much larger ; 
twelve rows of smooth hexagonal scales upon the back, beginning with those marked by the 
lateral vitta ; lower eyelid covered with scales. 
Color. —Shining black or brown above, with four blueish vittm, the two internal broader than 
the others, commencing about midway upon the sides of the head immediately over the eyes, 
and extending along the back and terminating upon the tail; the lateral ones commence at the 
anterior margin of the orbit, and, passing beneath it, extend upon the sides and are lost upon 
the tail ; chin and throat whitish ; abdomen and under part of tail slate color ; under surface 
of extremities whitish. 
Dimensions.— Length of head, §• inch ; breadth, £ inch ; length of body and tail, 4^ inches ; of 
tail, 2§ inches ; of anterior extremities, | inch ; of posterior, ■§ inch. 
Habitat. —Southern part of Upper California, near Mohave river, and in San Bernardino valley. 
The genus Scincus does not exist in the United States, the only species, viz: S. officinalis, being found, according to 
Dumeril & Bibon, in N. and W. Africa, Egypt, Abyssinia, and also Syria. 
