NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 43 



March 31st. 

 The President, Mr. Lea, in the Chair. 

 Twenty members present. 



On report of the respective Committees, the following papers were 

 ordered to be published in the Proceedings : 



Oa TRACHYCEPHALTTS, SCAPHIOPUS and other American BATRACHIA. 



BY E. D. COPE. 



Trachycephalus, Tsch. 



In the most recent enumeration of the species of this genus (by Dr. Gunther, 

 1858,) four are recognized: one, T. geographicus, from Brazil, and 

 three from the Antilles. I am enabled to add four to the latter, which have 

 been sent from those regions by 'Messrs. Wright and Weinland, and Professors 

 Poey and Adams, all well known as most efficient laborers in advancing our 

 knowledge of zoology in that field. 



It does not appear to have been stated that the males of certain species of this 

 genus, T. inarmoratus, insulsus, o v a t u s, possess, during the 

 breeding season, a corneous sheath upon the tuberiferous metacarpus of the 

 inner anterior digit, as occurs in Discoglossus and Scaphiopus. Specimens of 

 males in which the generative organs are not enlarged, are destitute of thi3 

 pellicle ; it is, however, readily lost after saturation in fluid. Its object here, 

 as elsewhere, is to assist the powers of prehension of the male. 

 The following table contrasts the peculiarities of the West Indian species : 

 A. Posterior margin of area of cephalic dennoossification 

 continuous with the skin of the nape ; 

 a. Without distinct cordiform outline. 



p. Its length from end of muzzle equal to breadth of 

 jaws opposite middle of orbits. 

 Muzzle acuminate; tongue entire; fingers scarcely webbed i n s ul s u s. 



Muzzle rounded ; tongue cordate ; fingers well webbed o v a t u s. 



PP. Length of casque from end of muzzle less than 

 breadth of jaws opposite middle of orbits. 

 Skin tuberculous; heel scarcely reaching muzzle; casque 



concave in posterior outline >. marmoratus. 



Skin nearly smooth ; heel reaching beyond muzzle; casque 



straight in posterior outline w r i g h t i i. 



a*. Casque with posterior cordate outline complete from 

 orbits ; 

 Canthus rostralis nearly straight ..... scutigeras. 



AA. Posterior margin of casque elevated, crest-like. 

 Length from muzzle to border of casque much less than 



breadth of jaws at middle of orbit Iichenatus. 



Length from muzzle to border of casque equal or greater than 



breadth of jaws at middle of orbit anochlorus. 



T. insulsus Cope, sp. nov. 



Head elongate, outlines converging toward end of muzzle. Length from that 

 point to posterior border of casque equal to distance across mouth at orbits. 

 Top of cranium plano-concave, end of muzzle prominent, rounded in profile. 

 Posterior outline of casque straight or slightly emarginate, extending nearly to 

 tympanum. Canthus rostralis strongly marked, with a slight point or ridge 

 one-third distant from orbit. Loreal region concave. Eyes very prominent, twice 

 extent of tympanum. Vomerine teeth in transverse series. Internal nares 

 equal ostia pharyngea. Tongue ast emarginate. Skin of upper surfaces 



1863.] 



