OCR Text |
Show 148 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON [Apr. 1, Mr. A. Smith-Woodward exhibited and made remarks on a Mesozoic Palreoniscid Fish from N e w South Wales, and pointed out that the structure of its pelvic fins seemed to confirm the recent opinion that the Palaeoniscidse are related to the Acipenseridae and not to the Lepidosteidao. 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 explorations 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 IX. Anatomy of the Eye 208 X. Anatomy of the Ear 209 XI. Arterial System 210 XII. Nervous System 211 XIII. Skeleton 214 XIV. Summary 231 XV. Concluding Eemarks 233 XVI. Bibliography 235 Page I. Introductory Eemarks ... 148 II. Form and External Characters 150 III. Myology 158 IV. Contained Organs of the Ccelom 192 V. Thoracic Organs 201 VI. Oral Cavity 203 VII. Poison-glands 206 VIII. Olfactory Cavities and Organ of Jacobson 207 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 a m I familiar with the mode of reproduction in this interesting epecies 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 m e 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 they drank freely of water, and afterwards each ate |