forms that have been mentioned, as well as in other members of the class Batrachia, the sinus venosus opens distinctly into the right auricle and the pulmonary vein into the left. Let us now compare the heart of a lungless salamander (Fig. 2.) with the one just described. The four parts, auricles, ventricle, bulbus arteriosus and sinus venosus are clearly recognizable and, superficially examined, present nothing unusual; it is only when the cavities are opened that the differences between the two hearts become apparent. One of the first things to attract attention is the left auricle. In the lungless forms examined, it is much smaller in comparison to the right than in Diemyctylus, for example, and no pulmonary vein was found opening into it. The auricular septum has only one opening through it, or perhaps, more correctly, it extends only part way across the cavity, but this aperture in the septum is so large (Fig. 2, 9.) that it is believed the communication between the two cavities is more free than even in Necturus. Just what function or functions the septum may have in these lungless forms, it seems to me, is not quite clear. That it has but little, if any use, is indicated by the way the sinus venosus opens into the auricles. In place of opening into the right auricle only, as in the forms having lungs, it opens more freely into the left auricle than into the right. If the ventral parietes of the heart be removed, one can look directly into the opening of the sinus venosus from either of the auricles, but more directly into it from the left than from the right, for when seen from the latter, one must look through the large opening of the auricular septum, Fig. 2, 9. In salamanders with lungs, each auricle opens in common into the ventricle with about equal freedom of communication, whereas in the lungless forms the right auricle is in more direct communication with the ventricle than is the left. Judging from the above facts, i. e., the way the sinus venosus opens into the auricles, the freedom with which the auricles communicate with each other, and the way the auricles communicate with the ventricle, it would seem as if the heart of the lungless salamanders, functionally, was only bilocular in place of being trilocular as in the rest of the Amphibia. Morphologically, of course, it is trilocular, but whether it is so physiologically seems to me doubtful. The heart of 8 lungless species have been examined by the writer, and so far as was made out, all of them agree closely with the description as given above. The probabilities are that in all the lungless forms similar conditions of the heart will be found. Up to the present time 17 species and sub-species, either wholly without lungs or with only functionless rudiments of them, have been reported. In his last paper, in which are enumerated 15 of the 17 lungless species, Wilder says that "in the Salamandrida lungless species are as numerous as those possessing lungs, and that in consequence of this, the definition of the group must be modified." It seems, however, that even with his proposed additions, the definition is still not sufficiently comprehensive, for the peculiarities in the structure of the heart certainly have almost as profound a significance as the absence of the lungs themselves, and should be incorporated in any definition that may be given. In addi tion to the 17 lungless species already mentioned, the writer has found an additional one, Spelerpes gluttolineatus. In order that one may see at a glance in which families and genera lungless individuals are found, the following table, taken from Prof. Cope's Batrachia of North America, is appended. [The last column is taken from the papers of Wilder and others]. In the last column of the above table, the figures indicate the number of species in which lungless individuals have been found. Where there is a discrepancy in the numerals and the number of species following them, it indicates either sub-species or species not mentioned in Cope's Batrachia of North America. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES. FIG. 1. Heart of Diemyctylus viridescens (semi-diagramatic) to show the general relations of the heart of a salamander with lungs. The ventral wall of the heart has been removed in order to show the auricular septum, the openings of the sinus venosus and the pulmonary vein, and also the relation of the auriculo-ventricular aperture to the right and left auricle. 1. Right auricle; 2. Left auricle; 3. Ventricle; 4. Sinus venosus; 5. Bulbus arteriosus; 6. Auricular septum; 7. Auriculo ventricular aperture; 8. Aperture of sinus venosus; 9. Pulmonary vein. FIG. 2. Heart of Desmognathus fusca (semi-diagramatic) to show relations of the heart in a lungless salamander. The ventral wall of the heart has been removed. 1. Right auricle; 2. Left auricle; 3. Ventricle; 4. Sinus venosus ; 5. Bulbus arteriosus; 6. Auricular septum; 7. Auriculo-ventricular aperture; 8. Aperture of sinus venosus; 9. Opening through auricular septum. G. S. HOPKINS, D. Sc., Cornell Univ. On two new Species of Lizards from Southern California. -ANOTA CALIDIARUM Cope.-A single lateral fringe of conic scales, extending on three-quarters the length between the axilla and groin; no trace of inferior fringe. Enlarged lateral gular scales only traceable below the rictus oris. Occipital horns moderate, each with a short accessory horn at the external base; internal temporal horn half as long as the occipital, with a short accessory horn at the external base; external temporal horn very short, and the temporal anterior to it presenting a serrate edge only. Infralabials presenting a serrate edge only; parietal region bounded on each side by an angulated border which overhangs the temporal region. Squamation of the head smaller than in other species; superior labials twelve, below the middle of the eye, instead of eight or nine in A. platyrhina the nearest allied species. Seven subequal scales in the transverse row between the canthal rows on the frontal angle; there are five unequal scales on the corresponding position in the A. platyrhina. Six longitudinal rows of supraocular scales, of which a group of five or six posterior to the middle are larger, but unequal. Supraorbital rows in contact, except at points, on the median line; last superciliary presenting a sharp angle; penultimate also presenting a prominent angle. Tomia of mouth only moderately serrate; a row of conic scales rising posteriorly on the side of the neck, and above its posterior end an inconspicuous rosette. A conspicuous rosette above the middle of the humerus. This species is nearest to the A. platyrhina Gir. from which it differs in various respects. The general proportions of all the parts and the coloration are about as in that species, the difference chiefly appearing in the squamation and the horns. The scales of the head are much more subdivided, and the presence of accessory horns is unique in the genus. The simplicity of the lateral fringe is also characteristic, as is also the rudimental character of the rosette on the neck. I may add here that in my estimation the genus Anota Hallow. is valid. It includes the species A. modesta Gir., A. goodei Stjen., A. platyrhina Gir., A. maccallii Hallow., and the above described. SCELOPORUS VANDENBURGIANUS Cope.-This is a small species with small scales and very dark colors. There is not much difference in the sizes of the dorsal, lateral and ventral scales; forty-five rows may be counted between the occiput and a line connecting the groins, and twelve in a head length. Between the groin and axilla thirty-five scales may be counted to an axillary area of smaller and smooth scales. The dorsal and lateral scales are keeled and mucronate; those of the inferior surfaces smooth and mostly feebly notched. Caudal scales strongly keeled and mucronate and larger than dorsals. Two parietals on each side, the anterior the larger, and extending to the narrow marginal supraocular row, so that there is only one frontoparietal on each side. A third parietal external to the other two. The frontal is not longitudinally divided. There is one series of six large supraoculars, separated from the frontals and frontoparietals all round by a series of small scales. External to the large supraoculars is a series of four much smaller polygonal flat scales much as in S. biseriatus. Between these and the superciliaries one row of still smaller scales (with an extra scale or two); two scales on the canthus rostralis. Head scales all smooth; six large free auricular scales. A single vertical prehumeral fold enclosing a pocket of granular scales; temporal scales keeled. The extended hind leg reaches to the auricular meatus. Temporal pores sixteen; male with postanal plates. Color of adult male dark green above, with faint traces of a paler stripe on each side of the back, and of a few darker spots on each side of the middle line. Inferior surface dark blue, with a pale line in the middle of the abdomen. Femur spotted with blue below; tibia and Summit of Coast Range, Dr. E. A. Mearns. Alcoholic. |