148 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON [Apr. 1, 



Mr. A. Smith-Woodward exhibited and made remarks on a Meso- 

 zoic Palpcouiscid Fish from New South Wales, and pointed out that 

 the structure of its pelvic fins seemed to confirm the recent opinion 

 that the Palasoniscidas are related to the Acipenseridte and not to the 

 Lepidosteidse. The author believed the specimen exhibited to be 

 the only one of the kind in existence. 



Mr. C. M. Woodford, C.M.Z.S., made some remarks on the 

 fauna of the Solomon Islands, and exhibited a large number of 

 photographs in illustration of his remarks and of his recent explo- 

 rations in these islands. 



The following papers were read : — 



1 . Contributions to the Study of Heloderma suspectum. 

 By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. 



[Eeceived March 5, 1890.] 



(Plates XVI.-XVIII.) 



Contents. 



Page 

 I. Introductory Eemarks . . . 148 

 IT. Form and External Cha- 

 racters 150 



Page 



IX. Anatomy of the Eye 208 



X. Anatomy of the Ear 209 



XI. Arterial System 210 



III. Myology 1-38 ! XII. Nervous System 211 



IV. Contained Orgaps of the 



Coelom 192 



V. Thoracic Organs 201 



VI. Oral Cavity 203 



VII. Poison-glands 206 



VIII. Olfactory Cavities and 



Organ of Jacobson 207 



XIII. Skeleton 214 



XIV. Summ.irv 2.31 



XV. Concluding Eemarks 23.3 



XVI. Bibliography 23.5 



I. Introductory Remarks. 



During the summer of 1887 the present writer came into possession 

 of two very fine living specimens of Heloderma suspectum that had 

 been obtained for him in Southern Arizona, in that section of the 

 United States zoogeographically known as the Sonoran Region, and 

 where the natural habitat of this, by far the largest of all of our 

 North-American lizards, is located. 



Never having been so fortunate as to have enjoyed the opportunity 

 of studying the habits and life of the Heloderm in its native haunts, 

 I can add nothing here to the accounts of others already published ; 

 nor am I familiar with the mode of reproduction in this interesting 

 species of lizard, though I have heard it stated, by good observers, 

 that it is an oviparous reptile. The two living specimens above 

 referred to were separately packed each in a small box, and in coming 

 to me arrived in excellent condition, after making a journey of several 

 hundred miles, lasting six or eight days, and each lizard consuming 

 only on the day of starting part of a boiled egg. Upon being removed 

 from their boxes thev drank freely of water, and afterwards each ate 



