2 Rej)t. 
REPTILIA. 
Spengel, J. Die Segmentalorgane der Amphibien. Vorlaufige Mit- 
theilungen. Verb. Ges. Wiirzb. (n.f.) x. pp. 89-92. 
GEOGHAPHIOAL DISTRIBUTION. 
Wallace, A. Geographical Distribution of Animals, 2 vols. London : 
1876, 8vo. 
Tbe geographical distribution of the families and genera of Reptiles 
and Aruphibians is treated collectively as a section, in chap. xix. of this 
work, vol. ii. pp. 392-423. • 
In discussing .the means of Dispersal and Migration of the various 
classes of animals, Mr. Wallace remarks (vol. i. p. 29) that Reptiles, 
exclusive of turtles and sea-snakes, being scarcely more fitted than 
Mammals for traversing seas and oceans, are generally wanting in 
oceanic islands which possess no indigenous Mammals ; this rule is 
however subject to exceptions among the lizards, which apparently 
have some unknown means of passing over the ocean (probably in 
the egg state), as they are found to inhabit many islands where there 
are neither Mammals nor snakes. Snakes entirely cease at 60^ N. Lat., 
and at 6000 feet elevation in the Alps. Lizards, though also essentially 
tropical, go sometimes farther north than snakes, and ascend higher, 
reaching 10,000 feet in the Alps. Amphibians extend much farther 
north ; Frogs to within the arctic circle ; their eggs are no doubt carried 
certain distances by aquatic birds, but salt water is fatal to them, 
and deserts and oceans constitute the most effectual barriers to their 
dispersal. 
Further remarks on the possible mode of transport of Reptiles to 
remote distances are made, vol. i. pp. 400-401, where the author treats 
of the points of similarity between the fauna of the Australian region 
and that of South America. 
Describing first in detail the faunae of the six great geographical 
regions (Neotropical, Nearctic, Palaearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, and Aus- 
tralian), the author refers successively to the Reptiles in their subordi- 
nate relation to each fauna, and afterwards, vol. ii. pp. 372-423, col- 
lects his results and tabulates them under the heads of the different 
families. 
FAUN^. 
Eurojpe. 
Lataste, F. Catalogue des Batraciens et Reptiles des environs de 
Paris, et distribution gdographique des Batraciens et Reptiles de 
r Quest de la France. Act. Soc. L, Bord. xxx. (and separately, Bor- 
deaux: 1876, 8vo, pp. 27). 
Essai d’une Faune Herp^tologique de la Gironde. Tom. cit. 
(and separately, Bordeaux : 1876, 8vo, pp. 352, pis. xl.). 
