804 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



distributed "in zones," but in quite a peculiar manner, althougb so com- 

 plicated as to bave given rise to tbe different iuterj)retations of facts, 

 of wbicb Mr. Boulenger's (originating witb Dr. Giiutber) is one expres- 

 sion. Tbe regions of Sclater and Wallace, so far as tbe fisbes are con- 

 cerned, are ratber grouped as follows : 



I. Genogcean hemisphere. — Tbree regions: 1. Nearctic ; 2. Falcearctic; 

 3. Oriental. 



II. Eogcean hemisphere. — Tbree regions : I.Ethiopian; 2. Neotropical; 

 3. Australian. 



Biped progression in a lizard. 



A singular lizard of tbe family of tbe Agamids, baving a frill-like de- 

 velopment of tbe integument on eacb side of tbe bead and neck conflu- 

 ent below,'is found in I^ortbern and Western Australia. It bas a com- 

 pressed body and a roundisb tail, forming about two-tbirds of tbe entire 

 lengtb, wbicb amounts to between two and tbree feet. Its name is 

 Cblamydosaurus Kingii, or tbe fringed lizard. 



It seems, from observation by Mr. Cbaries W. De Yis, tbat tbis lizard 

 is capable, to a limited extent, of a billed metbod of locomotion. On two 

 occasions individuals were observed to adopt tbis metbod of progression, 

 " trotting out briskly" on tbe bind limbs and witb tbe "fore paws bang- 

 ing down," so as to give tbe idea of affectation to tbe observer. Tbe 

 " vertebral line to tbe very snout " was " stiffened at an angle of 60 

 degrees ;" tbe animal at lengtb baited abruptly, erected its frill, and at 

 tbe same moment turned its bead inquiringly from side to side ; tben 

 trotted on again for 20 yards or so, and, repeating its attitude of atten- 

 tion, continued in tbis course until it reacbed a tree it was making for; 

 wben tbis was reacbed it darted up tbe trunk and clung tbere immov- 

 able for a long time, or, in tbe words of Mr. De Vis, " for more bours " 

 tban bis " leisure could afford for observation." Tbe listening attitude 

 was "so real, or at least so realistic," that it appeared to Mr. De Vis 

 tbat " one function of tbe bood migbt be tbat of conducting sound to 

 tbe tympanum, an office apparently aided by tbe cbannels formed by 

 its converging folds, and tbat if it were so it migbt be furnisbed witli 

 special muscles." Anotber subject of inquiry suggested by the animal 

 was tbe muscular furniture and other modifications of structure exhib- 

 ited by tbe bind limbs. An investigation of tbe myology was therefore 

 instituted. Tbe result of tbis investigation was, on tbe whole, " some- 

 wbat disappointing " to Mr. De Vis. 



Tbe frill was found to be " served by special, though feeble, muscles, 

 as well as by a large extension of tbe functions of some ordinary ones." 

 Tbe muscles " specialized for tbe purpose of assisting in the elevation 

 and depression of the hood do not of themselves indicate very clearly 

 tbat the ai^pendage is in a strict sense an auditory conch. But since 

 they certainly forbid tbe idea generated by the presence of the cartilage 

 and by the observed actions of the animal, that the bood may serve tp 



