578 A. MILANI, 



„Les poumons sont deux petits sacs simples ovales, de grandeur 

 égale; ils manquent d'appendices"^). (Cuvier, 6, p. 29 u. 134.) 



Die beiden zum Schluss noch zu besprechenden Familien der 

 Helodermatidae und Varanidae weisen innerhalb der Lacertilier ohne 

 Zweifel die complicirtesten Lufträume auf. 



„In Meloderma suspectum Cope we find that the central cavity 

 is divided into several smaller ones by means of partitions (fig. 5). 

 These smaller cavities or air-sacs are subdivided into air-cells, just 

 as we have seen in the case of the frogs lung. 



The bronchus is continued into the lung (which it enters at its 

 inner and anterior sixth) until it reaches the wall, which divides the 

 posterior sac from those lying in front of it; here it ends as a cir- 

 cular opening. This posterior sac is simpler in its structure than 

 those lying anterior to it. 



The subdivision of the inner surface of the lung beginns at the 

 anterior end and gradually proceeds backward. 



The air-sacs have encroached upon the central cavity until noth- 

 ing but a small tube or semi-bronchus is left. I am not inclined to 

 call this a bronchus, because it is perforated all along its walls with 

 the openings of the air-sacs. It might be considered as a single 

 atrium or third air-cavity, which communicates with the bronchus." 

 (Miller, 17, p. 170.) 



Varanidae. In Monitor niloticus [ Varanus nihticus (L.)] „each 

 bronchus enters the lung a little above the middle of its length and emits 

 a short branch with cartilaginous rings for the upper portion of the 

 lung: the principal stem does not penetrate far into the substance of 

 the lung; its cartilaginous rings soon disappear and there remains 

 only a membranaceous tube with numerous lateral openings. The 

 lungs of both sides are nearly equally developed and of moderate 

 capacity; their interior is amply provided with cells and meshes, 

 less so in their posterior extremity". (Günther, 12, p. 112.) 



In Regenia ocellata [Varanus exanthematicus (Bosc)] „the two 

 bronchi penetrate so far into the substance of the lungs, that they 

 nearly reach their posterior extremity and the length of each bron- 

 chus is equal to that of the undivided trachea: each bronchus opens 



1) Ob bei Chamaéleon pumiïus die Zipfel wirklich fehlen, oder ob 

 diese Behauptung nicht vielleicht auf ein mangelhaftes Präparat zurück- 

 zuführen ist, wage ich hier nicht zu entscheiden. Ich selbst habe diese 

 Art nicht untersuchen können. 



