the systematic value of rana chinensis osbeck 69 



Description. 



Vomerine teeth in two slightly oblique groups between the choanae 

 very seldom extending to the line joining the posterior border of the 

 choanae. The male's head is generally narrower, that of the female 

 rather broader than its length. The snout is pointed and projects 

 beyond the mouth; the distance from the anterior corner of the eye 

 is always longer than the eye's horizontal diameter; canthus ros- 

 tralis strongly marked; loreal region slanting, rather sunken; nostrils 

 considerably nearer to the eyes than to the tip of the snout; inter- 

 orbital space contained about one and a half times in that between 

 the nostrils and about twice in the breadth of the upper eyelid; 

 (these measurements are subject to slight variations.) Tympanum 

 well developed, its horizontal diameter longer than the vertical, 

 equal to two-thirds, at most, to three-quarters of the diameter of 

 the eye. 



The fingers of the fore limbs are rather pointed, the first longer 

 than the second; the subarticular tubercles are prominent, and well 

 developed. 



The hind limbs being carried forward along side of the body the 

 tibio-tarsal joint reaches the posterior corner of the eye, or at 

 most to between the anterior corner of the eye and the nostril; 

 tibia always much shorter than the fore limb, or the foot measured 

 from the outer meta-tarsal tubercle; when the hind limbs are bent 

 at right angles to axis of body, heels never do meet; toes entirely 

 webbed; the subarticular tubercles small and not very prominent; 

 the inner meta-tarsal tubercle (Plate VI, fig. i) very large, project- 

 ing, compressed, on both sides, hard and sharp, twice as long as 

 high; its length contained 1-1. 8 times in length of inner toe and 4. 8-7. 5 

 times in that of the tibia; it is most characteristic, that the inner 

 meta-tarsal tubercle is never parallel with the length-axis of the 

 sole but invariably forms a greater or smaller angle with it. It is 

 very characteristic, further, that the inner meta-tarsal tubercle 

 never adheres to the base of the thumb but is attached to it in a 

 mobile way with a web, spreading between it and the thumb. At 

 the root of the fourth (longest) finger there is always a small, 

 roundish outer meta-tarsal tubercle. 



