100 THE 1TA.TUEAL HISTOET EEYIEW. 



ore a question of interest whether any species of this family pos- 

 sesses the ordinary Batrachian type of vertebrae. 



BUFONIFOEMIA. 



No species of this suborder has articulated ribs or opisthocoelian 

 vertebrae, nor a distinct web between the external metatarsal bones. 

 In one genus only are the sacral diapophyses cylindrical. The 

 families are the Hhinophrynidce, Engystomidce^ BracTiymeridce, Bufo^ 

 nidcPf and Dendrohatidcs, 



EniNOPHETNIDiE. 



Ethmoid septal walls ossified to the end of the muzzle, and 

 separating the prefrontals ; its superior plate covered by the com- 

 pletely ossified fronto-parietale. Fronto-nasalia well developed, 

 entirely in contact with fronto-parietalia, separated by a median 

 point of the latter and by the ethmoid septum. No os pterygoideum 

 or pterygoid wing of ectopterygoid : the latter straight, with a short 

 maxillary suture. Sacral diapophysis dilated. Coracoid and epico- 

 racoid divergent, connected by a narrow single cartilage ; the 

 former not dilated, in contact with, or slightly separated from, that 

 of the opposite side. Tongue bound or retractile posteriorly. Ear 

 imperfectly developed. 



RhinopTirynus and Hemisus represent this form in Mexico and 

 Africa respectively. In the latter genus the coracoidii are in 

 contact, and there is a strong manubrium : the posterior free border 

 of the tongue may be drawn into a transverse slit by a flabelliform 

 retractor muscle. This slit is beneath the free portion of the tongue 

 when it is extended.* In both genera there are nine vertebrae (in- 

 clusive of sacral) and a coccyx attached to two condyles. 



Engtstomid^. 



Ethmoid septal walls cartilaginous ; the interorbital portion of 

 the superior plate usually covered by the completely ossified fronto- 

 parietals. jN"o pterygoidium. Sacral diapophyses dilated. Cora- 

 coids dilated, always in contact with each other, also with the epico- 

 racoids when present (with one exception), and always without 

 arciform cartilages. Tongue free, not retractile posterior^. 



There are two types in this family. In the first the o. prefrontalia 



* This I first observed in a specimen of Hemisus gnineensis preserved in the 

 vniiscum of Professor Geheimrath Ilyrtl, in Vienna, to whom lam nnder many obli- 

 gations for opportunities of studying valuable specimens and preparations. 



