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Show 2 6 8 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE [ J u n e 6 , manchen Gattungen, z. B., bei Var anus, Iguana, ist es nacli c en Angaben von Stannius zwar diinn, aber schildformig, voine concav, hinten convex und zeigt Andeutungen einer Sonderung in eine mittlere und zwei seitliche Erhabenheiten, duich sehi schwache Vorragungen, zwischen denen Spuren a on Fuicben liegen." It seems plain from tlie above account that tlie cerebellum ot Varanus is considered to be like that of Iguana, and, presumably, of other Lacertilia. In one of the most recent works dealing with the brain of the Sauropsida, the Catalogue of the Museum of the^ College of Surgeons *, there is a description of the brain of I aranus and some incidental references to the brain in the Lacertilia. Of the brain of Varanus it is remarked that " the cerebellum is of moderate dimensions and has the plate-like form usual among Reptiles." Elsewhere (p. 110) it is said that " the reptilian brain is narrow . . . , and, except in swimming forms, with insignificant cerebellum." I have examined this specimen myself and agree with the description. None of these statements, as I think, does justice to the cerebellum of Varanus exanthematicus, which is not at all like that of Iguana, has not a plate-like form, and is not insignificant-comparatively speaking, at any rate. The accompanying figure shows the characteristics of the Text-fig. 39. C& ^ Text-fig. 40. Text-fig. 39.- Lateral view of brain of Varanus exanthematicus (upper figure) and of Tupinambis nigropunctatus (lower figure). Text-fig. 40.-Dorsal view of brain of Varanus exanthematicus. c. Cerebrum ; ce. Cerebellum; op. Optic lobes. cerebellum of the Teguexin Lizard (text-fig. 39), which appears to me to be quite typical of the Lacertilia and to bear out the above quoted statements. It is a plate-like disc convex posteriorly, which as it were lies up against the optic lobes and is propped up * Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Physiological Series contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, vol. ii. p. 113 (2nd ed.). |