MEXICAN TAILLESS AMPHIBIANS 69 



suffusion. The vertebral line is usually light colored, and the back 

 is generally blotched with some dark color. The linear series of coni- 

 cal warts extending along lateral line from parotoid gland to thigh 

 separates the dorsal light-colored stripe from the lateral dark-colored 

 one. The parotoid glands are often bicolored. 



The normal coloration of this toad may be described as follows: 

 Below lateral linear series of yellowish warts extending from paro- 

 toid gland to thighs is a blackish stripe and above it is a light-colored, 

 often yellowish, stripe. A black transverse bar extends across head 

 between orbits and near origin of parietal crests; a black obliquely 

 placed spot is placed in front of antero-internal angle of parotoid 

 gland; a dark inverted V bisects light-colored vertebral stripe near 

 level of middle of parotoid glands ; behind this mark- 

 ing and on each side of vertebral stripe are small 

 irregular dark-colored blotches; an irregular elon- 

 gate black blotch in sacral region on each side of 

 vertebral stripe; warts conspicuous and numerous; 

 cranial crests very distinct. 



One of the variants has the upperparts suffused 

 with reddish brown. In another phase the upper- 

 parts are very light colored, and are generally j^el- 

 lowish or light gray. In this phase the dark blotches 

 or markings are often indistinct. figure 1 5.— Head of b«/o 



In the dark phase the upperparts are slate vatucepsiv.s.NM no. 



^ , x-r- r- 42351) from Victoria, 



colored or even blackish. All the markmgs are Tex.: a, Lateral view; 6, 

 either somewhat subdued or less evident because ^"^^'^^ ^'®^ 

 of the general darkening of the entire ground color. The lateral dor- 

 sal light-colored stripes are less noticeable because of an invasion of 

 a slaty suffusion. Some of the lateral linear series of warts may be 

 slate colored. 



In some immature individuals, the black markings have a velvety 

 appearance. This condition is occasionally met with in subadult 

 specimens. The underparts are often unspotted, but in most instances 

 dark spots or blotches are present. 



It would appear from the footnote in Wiegmann's article that the 

 brother of Ferdinand Deppe had been selling specimens of this toad 

 under the name Bufo trachypus. It is a nomen nvdum and has no 

 standing in zoological nomenclature. The cotypes of Bujo valliceps 

 (M. N. B. Nos. 3525-27, 3532) were collected in Mexico by Ferdi- 

 nand Deppe, who was a member of a party of Germans engaged in 

 making botanical collections in Mexico. The following notes were 

 made on these cotypes: 



No. 3525, two cotypes collected by Deppe in Mexico. Head-and- 

 body length, 94 mm. and 100 mm., respectively; the former has white 

 underparts and the latter has white underparts with brown marbling. 



