804 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



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

 plicated as to have given rise to the different interjiretations of facts, 

 of which Mr. Boulenger's (originating with Dr. Giiuther) is one expres- 

 sion. The regions of Sclater and Wallace, so far as the fishes are con- 

 cerned, are rather grouped as follows: 



I. Genogcean hemisphere. — Three regions: 1. N'earetic ; 2. Palcearctic; 

 3. Oriental. 



II. JEogceati hemisphere. — Three regions : I.Ethiopian; 2. Neotropical; 

 3. Australian. 



Biped progression in a lizard. 



A singular lizard of the family of the Agamids, having a frill-like de- 

 velopment of the integument on each side pf the head and neck conflu- 

 ent below, is found in ISforthern and Western Australia. It has a com- 

 pressed body and a roundish tail, forming about two-thirds of the entire 

 length, which amounts to between two and three feet. Its name is 

 Ohlamydosaurus Kingii, or the fringed lizard. 



It seems, from observation by Mr. Charles W. De Vis, that thislizard 

 is capable, to a limited extent, of a biped method of locomotion. On two 

 occasions individuals were observed to adopt this method of progression, 

 " trotting out briskly" on the hind limbs and with the "fore paws hang- 

 ing down," so as to give the idea of affectation to the observer. The 

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

 degrees;" the animal at length halted abruptly, erected its frill, and at 

 the same moment turned its head inquiringly from side to side ; then 

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

 tion, continued in this course until it reached a tree it was making for; 

 when this was reached it darted uj) the trunk and clung there immov- 

 able for a long time, or, in the words of Mr, De Vis, " for more hours " 

 than his " leisure could afford for observation." The listening attitude 

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

 that " one function of the hood might be that of conducting sound to 

 the tympanum, an office apparently aided by the channels formed by 

 its converging folds, and that if it were so it might be furnished with 

 special muscles," Another subject of inquiry suggested by the animal 

 was the muscular furniture and other modifications of structure exhib- 

 ited by the hind limbs. An investigation of the myology was therefore 

 instituted. The result of this investigation was, on the whole, " some- 

 what disappointing " to Mr. De Vis. 



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

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

 .The muscles " specialized for the purpose of assisting in the elevation 

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

 that the appendage is in a strict sense an auditory couch. But since 

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

 and by the observed actions of the animal, that the hood may serve to 



