961 
Though the proof has not been given at present that this is 
a ease of more or less quick rhythm in the division of the skin-cells 
— as is the case with amphibians — we cannot help thinking 
that we must look for the principal cause of the stripe design 
of the skin in rhythmical skin-growth. This may sometimes coincide 
with the rest of the metamerism of the body, but as a rule it is 
quite independent of it. 
The future wil! teach us whether the conclusion to which TORNIER 
arrives is not too optimistic. He thinks that it will be possible to 
infer partly the conduct of every lizard or snake directly from the 
skin-design. In the first place it is necessary to trace, whether in 
the case of reptiles too, the stronger pigmented places of the skin 
of the embryos actually coincide with the places in the epidermis, 
where an intenser growth, and consequently a quicker division of 
cells occurs. [ found that with Draco volans this investigation is 
much more difficult, but not impossible and I hope to be able to 
give further data in a following communication. 
