ZOOLOGY. 



801 



{Teiidce.) — Lacertoidea with the supra-temporal fossa not roofed over 

 and the parietals united into one, and without osteo-dermal plates. 



{Ldcertidw.) — Lacertoidea with the supra-temporal fossa roofed over; 

 the parietal bones united ; the premaxillaries simple, single, and without 

 osteo-dermal plates. 



{Gerrhosauridcs.) — Lacertoidea with the supra-Wemporal fossa roofed 

 overj parietal bones united ; premaxillaries single, and with osteo-der- 

 mal plates, each provided with a regular system of tubules (or trans- 

 verse ones anastomosing wivh longitudinal ones). 



(Scincidoe.) — Lacertoidea with the supra- temporal fossa roofed overj 

 the parietals joined, and with osteo-dermal plates, as in the Gerrhosau- 

 ridae. 



Anelytropoidsa. — Eriglossate saurians with the vertebrae concavo-con- 

 vex ; the clavicles not dilated proximally, and without post-fronto 

 squamosal or post-orbital arches. 



(Anelytropidw.) — Anelytropoidea with the premaxillaries single, and 

 without osteo-dermal plates. 



Doubtful super-family. {Dihamidw.) — Anelytropoidea, with the pre- 

 maxillaries double and without osteo-dermal plates. 



All the preceding twenty families are combined in the suborder " La- 

 certilia vera" (which may be better called Eriglossa), and are distin- 

 guished by the "nasal bones entering the border of the nasal apertures; 

 pterygoid in contact with the quadrate; clavicle present whenever the 

 limbs are developed [and the] tongue flattened." 



The only remaining group or family of the order is that of the Gha- 

 mceleontidce, which represents alone the suborder " Ehiptoglossa," dis- 

 tinguished by the " nasal bones not bounding the nasal apertures, ptery- 

 goid not reaching quadrate; clavicle absent; limbs well developed, [and] 

 tongue vermiform [and] projectile." 



The geographical distribution of Lizards. — Much difference is exhibited 

 by the associations of diverse animal groups in faunal areas. If, for 

 example, we compare the distribution of fishes and birds, it will be 

 found that the major groups into which they are combined are very dif- 

 ferent. The birds have accommodated themselves (to a large extent) to 

 the present lay of the lands, while the fishes are distributed in such a 

 manner as to convey the impression that the distribution has been de- 

 termined by previous geological conditions and relations of the conti- 

 nents. Dr. G. A. Boulenger has recently given the outlines of the 

 geographical distribution of the Lacertilians, or lizards, and has called 

 attention to the very great difference between their distribution and 

 that of other groups of reptiles, as well as that of the Batrachians or 

 Amphibians. " If," says Dr. Boulenger, " we attempt to divide the globe 

 as to its Batrachiau fauna, two primary divisions present themselves, 

 viz. a northern zone, comprising the Palaiarctic and Nearctic regions, 

 and an equatorial southern zone; but for lizards we have to draw a 

 H. Mis. 15 51 



