THE RHINOPHRYNE. 



169 



The color of this species is deep liver-brown above, with two longitudinal yellow stripes, 

 beginning at the eyes and extending as far as the base of the hind-legs. A forked yellow 

 mark appears between these stripes just where they end, and the limbs are liver-brown, 

 spotted with yellow. The under parts are very pale brownish-red profusely variegated with 

 pale yellow spots In length it is nearly two inches. The generic name Brachymerus is 

 derived from two Greek words, signifying short-thighed. 



THE TINGEING FEOG of Southern America (Hylaplesia tinctbria) is worthy of a casual 

 notice. 



This creature is so called because the Indians are said to employ it for imparting a differ- 

 ent tinge to the plumage of the green parrot. They pluck out the feathers on the spots where 

 they desire to give the bird a different colored robe, and then rub the wounded skin with the 

 blood of this Frog. The new feathers that supply the places of those that have been removed, 

 are said to be of a fine red or yellow hue. 



It is found in various parts of Southern America, and is common in Surinam, where it 

 mostly inhabits the woods, traversing the branches and leaves by day, and at night concealing 

 itself under the loose bark. Like the common Tree-Frog of Europe, it seldom visits the 

 water except during the breeding-season, for the purpose of depositing its eggs. 



In color it is extremely variable. Some specimens are black, with a white spot on the 

 top of the head, and two stripes of the same color running from the head along each side. In 

 certain individuals there are cross bands of white between the stripes. Other examples are 

 gray above and black below; some are wholly black, spotted with large round white marks; 

 others are black; others are gray, spotted with black; while a few specimens are brown, with 

 a large white spot on each side, and two white bands on the fore limbs. 



THE RHINOPHRYNE is remarkable as being the only known example among the Frogs 

 where the tongue has its free end pointing forward, instead of being directed towards the 

 throat. 



This curious spe- 

 cies inhabits Mexico, 

 and can easily be recog- 

 nized by the peculiar 

 form of its head, which 

 is rounded, merged into 

 the body, and has the 

 muzzle abruptly trun- 

 cated, so as to form a 

 small circular disc in 

 front. The gape is ex- 

 tremely small, and the 

 head would, if sepa- 

 7-ated, be hardly recog- 

 nizable as having be- 

 longed to a Frog. There 

 are two glands by the 

 ears, but although they 

 are of considerable 

 dimensions, they are 



scarcely apparent externally, being concealed under the skin. The legs are very short and 

 thick, and the feet are half-webbed. Each hind-foot is furnished with a flat, oval, horny 

 spur formed by the development of one of the bones. There are no teeth in the jaws, and the 



VOL. III.-32. 



RHINOPHRYNK. SMim/i/ii yne dorsaiis. 



