97 



XI. — Sketch of the peimaey Geoups of Batrachia salientia. 

 By Edward D. Cope, of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 Philadelphia, U. S. A. ; C. M. Z. S. L. 



The peculiarities of their osseous structure appear to point out 

 among the families of the Batrachia salientia three series. First, 

 those characterized by an absence of teeth and manubrium sterni, 

 where the diapophysis of the sacrum is dilated, and the sternum with 

 or without cartilaginous arches. Secondly, those having teeth, the 

 coracoid and epicoracoid bones divergent and connected by a longi- 

 tudinally placed cartilaginous arch,* that of the one side overlapping 

 that of the other ; the sacral diapophysis being either dilated or 

 cylindrical, and the manubrium present or absent. Thirdly, those 

 having teeth, the sacral diapophysis cylindrical, and a sternum of the 

 following structure. The axes of the coracoid and epicoracoid are 

 parallel, not divergent, their distal extremities separated only by 

 interposed articular cartilage, and that of the epicoracoid resting 

 upon that of the coracoid, which is much dilated : there are therefore 

 no arciform cartilages. There is always a bony manubrium, and 

 usually an osseous styliform xiphisternal piece. 



These series may be called the Bufoniformia, the Arcifera, and 

 the Eaniformia. The first is extensively developed in the Neotro- 

 pical, the Ethiopian, and Palaeotropical regions ; many species occur 

 in the Nearctic district, a small number in the Palsearctic, and but 

 three in the Australian. The second is found in all the regions of 

 the globe except the Ethiopian, but is relatively much most de- 

 veloped in the Austi'alian and Neotropical faunae ; in the Palaeotro- 

 pical but four or five species occur. The Eaniformia, on the contrary, 

 are not found in Australia, are represented by but one species 

 in South America, are well represented (relatively) in the Ne- 

 arctic and Palsearctic regions, abound in the ^Ethiopian, but are 

 most numerous in the Palaeotropical. 



In each of these series or suborders we find types adapted for 



* Plainly homologous with those connecting the coracoids and epicoracoids 

 of the Lacertilia. They are homologized by M. Duges with the clavicles; and the 

 bones usually so called in the Batrachia salientia he terms acromials. A super- 

 ficial view favours the opinion that the latter are rather epicoracoids, and that 

 the clavicles of the Lacertilia have no homologue among the Frogs. 

 N.H.R.— 1865. H 



