lateral nervures (style of Viguiera helianthoides H. B. K., from Cuba). In H. coloradensis the bases of the leaves are much broader, and the subbasal nervures make a large angle with the midrib, differing little herein from the lateral nervures. The real fascicularis is widely distributed in the mountains, going south into New Mexico, while Mr. Osterhout collected perfectly characteristic specimens in two different years at Bosworth's Ranch, Stove Prairie, Larimer Co., Colorado. +161 ΟΙ 833 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF BASILISCUS DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA. BY ALEXANDER G. RUTHVEN. The specimens of Basiliscus obtained in the Santa Marta Region by the Bryant Walker Expedition of the University of Michigan differ so markedly from the known forms in the genus as to indicate that they belong to a different species. The Colombian form is apparently nearest to Basiliscus americanus, but it is not described under any of the names usually placed in the synonymy of that species. The collection contains thirty-seven specimens.* Basiliscus barbouri† sp. nov. Diagnosis.-Size large; general form, including the dorsal and caudal crests, but excepting the head crest, as in B. americanus. In adult males the occipital swellings rounded above, meeting in a median groove (thus no parietal ridge), and obtusely pointed posteriorly, quite covering the parietal ridge of bone and its cartilaginous extension and not merging gradually into the crest. The head crest single, not erect but pendent upon the side of the neck, ribbon-like, narrowing rapidly from its base, which extends on the median line of the head from a point above or behind the ear opening to the anterior region of the neck, to form a long narrow lobe. Base of head crest covered with small, pointed, smooth, tubercular, or feebly keeled scales, the upper ones largest; scales of the Since this description was prepared the writer has examined 12 immature specimens in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, collected by W. W. Brown, Jr., at Palomina (5000 feet) and La Concepcion (3000 feet) in the Santa Marta Mountains. While most of the specimens are too young for specific indentification, the species is indicated by a partly grown male (Cat. No. 6563, M. C. Z.) which has the form of head crest described for B. barbouri. † Named for Mr. Thomas Barbour, Herpetologist in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Cambridge, Massachusetts. lobe long and very narrow, six or seven times as long as wide. Ventral scales smooth. General color above olive brown, usually finely spotted with pale yellowish on the body, five black cross bars on each side between the limbs, and two on the neck, these interrupted by a yellowish band extending from the neck or from above the ear to the groin; limbs dark brown barred and spotted with yellow or pale olive. In the adults there is a short yellow band from the posterior corner of the eye to above the ear, and another, poorly defined below, from the lower eyelid to the shoulder, these light bands usually brighter than the body stripes and with more or less distinct black margins on the temporal region. An indistinct yellowish band sometimes present on the lower part of the sides. Coloration of the young similar to that of the adults except that the markings are more distinct, and the lower body stripe is continuous with the lower neck stripe across the shoulder, anteriorly extending upon the side of the muzzle and involving the lower eyelid. All markings more obscure in adults but as a rule more distinct in the females. Habitat.-Found on the lowlands at the base of the Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia, from Santa Marta to Fundacion, and in the mountains to 2200 feet (Minca). Type-specimen.—Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Cat. No. 45,411; Gaira River at Minca, San Lorenzo, Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia (altitude 2200 feet); July 14, 1913; Alexander G. Ruthven, collector. Description of type-specimen.-Adult male. Head crest long and narrow, nearly twice as long as its greatest width, rising on the median line from a point above the ears to the anterior region of the neck; upper margin not erect, when supported it is on the plane of the orbital angles and the highest point is just above the posterior margin of the maxillary protuberances; posterior margin rising directly upward to a point a little behind the highest point of the upper margin and then backward and downward parallel with the dorsal to form the narrow lobe. Entire crest pendent upon the side of the neck from near the base, the latter partially erect to highest point. Occipital swellings rounded above and meeting in a shallow groove, thus covering the parietal extension of the skull so that there is no ridge preceding the crest. Base of crest covered with slightly enlarged pointed scales with low keels that become smooth toward the lobe; scales of lobe in about 8 rows of 16 or 17, long and very narrow, approximately 6 or 7 times as long as broad. Seven upper labials and 7 and 8 lower labials to below the center of the eye; two sublabials in contact with the labials on one side, on the other the second and third partly separated from the labials by a small plate. Ventral scales smooth. A high dorsal crest, as high as the body, and a high caudal crest, both covered with large smooth scales. Color of body and neck above dull brownish olive, indistinctly and finely spotted with dull yellow and with a few irregular black spots (the remnants of cross bars); the dorsal crest paler and with a few small black FIG. 1.-Lateral view (natural size) of head of type-specimen of Basiliscus barbouri. FIG. 2.-Dorsal view (natural size) of head of type-specimen of Basiliscus barbouri. (End of crest blocked out.) |