1853.] 421 



Ranidella, Girard. Palate without teeth. Tongue elongated, subelliptica , 

 posteriorly slightly emarginated and free upon one-third of its length. Tynn- 

 panum not visible. Eustachian tubes minute. Fingers and toes subcylindrical, 

 tapering into a point and perfectly free. Ranidella signifera, Girard. 



With no specimen of Crinia georgiana at our command, we have been unable 

 to compare critically the characters of Crinias as just subdivided. For this 

 reason we do not raise Ranidella to the rank of a genus for the present. If fu- 

 ture investigations do not bring to light other species of each of these subdi- 

 visions, we shall not hesitate to consider Crinia georgiana and Ranidella sig- 

 nifera as congeneric species, in which the character of the vomerine teeth loses 

 that importance which it has elsewhere. 



Ranidella^ as circumscribed above, is related to Oxyglossus and Leiuperus in 

 the absence of teeth on the palate, differing from both, however, in having its 

 tympanum entirely hidden and its toes perfectly free. 



Crinia georgiana is an analogue, in Australia, of the South American Pleuro- 

 demas. 



WAGLERIA, Girard. Vomerine teeth disposed on a single and very long trans 

 verse row, situated behind the inner nostrils. Tympanum small and not very 

 distinct. Toes bordered by a membranous fold in the male. Tongue but slightly 

 notched posteriorly. 



Ohs. Wagleria peronu (C. peronii, D. and B.), and W. dorsalis (C dor- 

 salis, Gray, should the latter prove specifically distinct from the first), are the 

 two species which constitute this genus. Both species are natives of New Hol- 

 land, and of the first, specimens were collected by the Exploring Expedition 

 in the south-eastern part of Australia. The latter we only know through the 

 brief description of J. E. Gray. 



KASSINA, Girard. Vomerine teeth disposed in two V-shaped groups, situ- 

 ated behind the inner nostrils. Tympanum not distinct. Tongue cordiform, 

 emarginated behind. Fingers free, the first shorter than the second. Toes entirely 

 deprived of membrane. Skin perfectly smooth. 



Obs. Kassina senegalensis {Cystign, senegalensis, Dum. and B.) is the only 

 species hitherto known of this genus, the diagnosis of which may hereafter re- 

 quire some slight modifications, upon the reception of other species presenting 

 ^he same disposition of the vomerine teeth. 



Thus, the genera Leptodact7jluSi Cystignathns and Pleurodemi are American ; 

 the genera Wagleria, Crinia and ^arei6?e^^a are Australian, and the ^^qx^\x% Kassina 

 is African. 



From want of specimens, and accuracy in their descriptions, we have not been 

 able to determine, generically, Cystignathns aeneus, Guich., C schombnrghii, 

 Trosch., and C. sylvestris,T?,ch.., ?l\\ three from South America. The latter, 

 apparently, belongs to the genus Cystignathns proper, but seems to be provided 

 with a much smaller number of teeth, and likewise situated more anteriorly than 

 is usually the case in that group. The visibility of the tympanum and the pre- 

 sence of a partial membrane to the toes are strongly suggestive of that genus. 



Ranid-e. 



1. Leptodactyltjs serialis, G. Greenish brown on the head and back; yel" 

 lowish brown on the sides and legs, with series of black maculae. A post-orbital 

 vitta tapering into a point towards the shoulder. Margin of the jaws maculated 

 "with black and white. Vomerine teeth disposed upon angular arches. Tongue 

 cordiform, posteriorly free upon one third of its length, slightly emarginated at 

 both extremities. Toes with a rudimentary membrane at their base and along 

 their margin. Skin with indistinct longitudinal dorsal folds, otherw-ise smooth. 



Ohs. Allied to L. typhojiius, but distinguished from the latter by the struc- 

 ture of the toes. 



Locality. Rio de Janeiro, 1S39. 



