288 BATRACHIA SALIENTIA. 
1. Nototrema oviferum. (Tab. LXXIV. fig. A.) 
Notodelphys ovifera, Weinland, MB. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1854, p. 372; Arch. f. Anat. Physiol. 
1854, p. 449, tabb. 17-19. 
Opisthodelphys ovifera, Giinth. Batr. Sal. p. 117. 
Nototrema oviferum, Bouleng. Batr. Sal. p. 418. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Costa Rica, Carrillo (Underwood ).—VENEZUELA. 
In the adult the upper surface of the head is entirely osseous and margined by series 
of bony spines, largest along the edges of the occipital and parietal regions. Vomerine 
teeth in two fascicles between the hind margins of the choanze. ‘Tympanum large, not 
much smaller than the eye. Fingers with a rudimentary web, toes one-third webbed. 
Disks large, but smaller than tympanum. A tarsal fold. Greenish with black 
markings ; limbs with black light-edged cross-bars ; abdomen lighter coloured, with 
subsymmetrical whitish markings. Male without vocal sac. 
Length of body . . . . . ee ee + + + + 660 millim. ‘ 
hindlimb . . . . . . ee ee ee 98 55 
It may appear hazardous to refer a very young frog from Costa Rica, which has not 
yet completed its metamorphosis, to a species and genus of the development of which 
we know 80 little as of Nototrema, especially when that specimen does not show some of 
the features which are considered characteristic of WV. oviferum. Yet the most essential 
points in which our example does differ, such as the soft integument of the upperside 
of the head or the absence of vomerine teeth, or the less-developed digital web, are 
those which we should expect to find in a less specialized condition in the very young 
of that species. This frog may belong to a new species of Nototrema; but there 
is an ydult specimen of IV. oviferum in the British Museum, preserved for many years 
and much discoloured, in which, on nearer inspection, certain marks are still faintly 
visible which significantly agree with the pattern of the young example: such are the 
curious loop-like green figure round the humeral joint on each side of the chest and 
the black cross-bands of the lower leg, which are almost linear, much narrower than 
those of the thigh. 
The body of the specimen (Tab. LXXIV. fig. A) is 28 millim. long; the tail has 
entirely disappeared, but the mouth is not yet cleft to its angle, an internal fold 
of the mucous membrane tying the proximal portion of the mandible to the upper 
jaw *. Vomerine teeth absent; choanze closed by the mucosa, although visible 
as a depression. Tongue slightly emarginate behind. Outlines of the large 
tympanum clearly distinct, but the membrane merged into the deep black of the 
temporal region. Fingers without web, toes half-webbed. Disks of moderate 
s]Ze. 
* This ligament is preserved on the right side only ; I have been obliged to tear it on the left side to obtain 
a view of the tongue and inside of the mouth. 
