Vol. XXIII, pp. 89-90 May 27, 1910 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW GENUS OF AMPHIBIA SALIENTIA FROM 



DUTCH NEW GUINEA. 

 BY THOMAS BARBOUR. 



Not long ago I procured a small series of Papuan reptiles 

 taken by Mr. Pratt at Fak Fak, New Guinea. One of the two 

 water snakes (^Natrix mairii) showed a large swelling along its 

 midregion and a single cut revealed the subject of this notice. 



Pomatops gen. nov. Engystomatidarum. 



Pupil large, round. Tongue large, much longer than broad, entire, 

 free on sides and behind to a considerable extent. Palate with two feebly 

 developed papillose ridges, curving forward, deep in the entrance of the 

 oesophagus. Tympanum hidtlen. Fingers and toes quite free, their 

 tips very slightly dilated. No precoracoids ; no omosternum; sternum 

 small and cartilaginous. Diapophy.ses of sacrum scarcely dilated at all. 

 Terminal phalanges T shaped. The most interesting feature of this new 

 form is the development of the eyelids. The upper eyelids are involved 

 in a flap of skin extending for some distance anterior and posterior to 

 the position of the eye. These flaps are sufficiently developed so that 

 they may be laid down and thus completely cover the whole eye. Two 

 semilunar shaped white spots one below the position of each eye give 

 the creature the appearance of l)eing open-eyed even when the folds of 

 skin along the sides of tlie head are down and the eyes are thus quite 

 hidden. 



Pomatops valvifera sp. nov. 



Type : A single example, well preserved. Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool. 2577. 



Taken from the stomach of a specimen of Natrix xiairii (Ciray) from 

 Fak Fak, North we.stern Dutch New Guinea. The snake was caught 

 there by Mr. A. E. Pratt, the well known zoological collector. 



Hal)it rather slender. Head short, snout not prominent, mouth ratlier 

 small, eyes directed laterally. I^imbs moderate; tlrst linger shorter than 

 second; outer toe longer than inner; subarticular tubercles very indis- 

 tinct; metatarsal tubercles wanting. The hind limb being carried 



20— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (89) 



