ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
585 
vaccinal inoculations. The more anti-virulent the serum, the greater the 
presumption of failure in vaccinal inoculation. 
Connection between Ear and Swim-bladder in Cobitis fossilis.* * * § — 
Dr. J. Nusbaum and Herr S. Sidoriak have worked out this complex 
connection. They think it probable that the fish, which burrows in the 
mud, has acute hearing. Sound waves impinging on the thin regions 
over the lateral openings of the bony capsule of the swim-bladder may 
set up vibrations in the lymph surrounding the bladder itself. From 
the bladder the vibrations may be transmitted to the “mallei” and 
“ stapedes,” and thus be continued in the viscid fluid in the lymphatic 
spaces which communicate with the cavities enclosed between “ stapedes ” 
and “ claustra.” Finally, the vibrations in the lymph of the cavurn sinus 
irnparis may be transmitted to the upper wall of the saccus endolym- 
pliaticus , and to the endolymph of the entire membranous labyrinth, 
which is very richly provided with nerve-endings. 
Distribution of Lizards.j — Dr. J. Palacky discusses this subject, 
which has as vet received very inadequate treatment in the text-books. 
The Sclater- Wallace geographical regions do not apply to lizards, and 
their distribution shows many striking peculiarities. The author gives 
the distribution of the families, and then describes in detail the Lacer- 
tilian fauna of the great continents and more important islands. The 
lists include both fossil and recent forms. 
Lizard with Suctorial TaiLf — Dr. Gustav Tornier describes the 
unique tail of Lygodactylus picturatus Ptrs., which, like the fingers and 
toes, bears attaching plaits. These form an effective sucker on the 
vacuum principle. There are twenty attaching plaits disposed in two 
rows, double the number that occurs on a toe or finger. 
Origin of the Diaphragm.§ — Herr F. Hochstetter has tackled the 
question, which has been repeatedly asked, whether the diaphragma 
dor sale of mammals is a new structure or is hinted at in lower Verte- 
brates. From his studies in lizards ( Lacerta , Stellio , &c.) he concludes 
that one is justified in saying that the mammalian structure may be 
referred back to a rudimentary expression of it found in reptiles. The 
main differences depend on obliteration-processes in the pulmo-hepatic 
recessus. The diaphragm in bird-embryos, though with peculiarities 
of its own, may be referred back to the same origin. 
Fresh water Investigations. || — Prof. H. B. Ward has made a very 
useful bibliography and summary of fresh-water investigations during 
the last five years, taking for his first date the publication of the first 
report of the Plon Biological Station and the opening of the laboratory 
on Lake St. Clair. It is a carefully executed piece of work, which will 
be of value not only in showing what has been done in the study of 
the problems of fresh -water faunas, but in indicating fruitful lines of 
future work. The bibliography occupies nearly fifty pages. 
* Anat. Anzeig , xvi. (1899) pp. 209-23 (7 figs.). 
t Zool. Jahrb ,, xii. (1899) pp. 247-85. 
X Biol. Centralbl., xix. (1899) pp. 549-52 (3 pis.). 
§ Morpbol. Jabrb., xxvii. (1899) pp. 263-98 (1 pi. and 3 figs.). 
|| Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc., xx. (1899) pp. 261-336. 
