NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 311 



somewhat arched, the rostral plate very broad and free, entirely separating the 

 internasals. There is a complete annulus of scales round the eye. The tail is 

 relatively shorter than in the known species. 



Ground color light grey; a series of elongate parallelogrammic brown 

 blotches occupies the dorsal region, from the nape to the end of the tail. Labi- 

 als and under surfaces unspotted. 



Length about fourteen inches. This serpent is remarkably different from 

 the three already known representatives of the genus. In these the orbit rests 

 on the labials, and the color is in bands. 



Presented to the Mus. Acad. Nat. Sci. by Wm. M. Gabb, who discovered it 

 in the upper part of Lower California. 



Peltaphryne lemue Cope, sp. nov. 



This is a toad of singular aspect, owing to the extraordinary development of 

 the bony crests of the cranium and the large size of its eyes. 



The muzzle is short and very much flattened, projecting much beyond the 

 mouth. The upper lip forms indeed a strongly projecting bony rim all round 

 the mouth. Loreal region very concave, canthus concave and very close to- 

 gether. The superciliary crests are extraordinarily elevated, having an arched 

 outline, and descending steeply to the loreal region. It is angulate posteri- 

 orly, joining the almost equally developed supratympanic ridge. The crown 

 of the head is thus a deep basin, widened above the tympana, and obstructed 

 by a cross- elevation in front. Strong ridges behind and before the orliit ; nos- 

 trils vertical, a short bonj* longitudinal ridge below them. According to the 

 characters of the genus there is no derm on the head. Tympanum vertically 

 oval. Parotoids broad oval, directed obliquelj' downwards, covered like the 

 remainder of the upper surfaces of the body and limbs, with numerous closely 

 placed sub-round tubercles, with rugose surfaces. Feet rather short, with 

 small tubercles, and only one remarkably weak metatarsal tubercle, the inner. 

 A strong corneous ridge on the inner margin of the tarsus. The heel reaches 

 the middle of the parotoid. The toes are about half-webbed, and have a strong 

 dermal margin. Two strong carpal tubercles. Under surfaces studded with 

 small tubercles, with acute points. Tongue obovate, largely free. 



In. Lin. 



Length head and body 4 5-5 



" toaxilla , 2 



" " posterior margin tympanum 15 



" " anterior margin orbit G 



" of fore limb 2 5 5 



" " hind limb 4 35 



" " " foot 2 4 



Width of head behind 17-5 



" interorbital space 8-5 



" topof muzzle Iv5 



The color above is a blackish-brown, the top of the head yellow shaded ; 

 two longitudinal brown spots on the frontal region. A light vertebral line 

 disappears on the back and reappears on the coccyx, and another light line 

 passes round the inside of the parotoids and diverges on the scapular region. 

 Limbs yellowish cross-banded, below dirty white, below the vent blackish. 



This curious animal was found by George Latimer, the correspondent of the 

 Smithsonian Institution in Porto Rico, W. I. We are indebted to the same 

 zoologist for the following species : 

 Peltaphryne lemur Cope. 

 Cystigxathus albilabris Gthr. var. 

 Hemidactylu.s mabuia Cuv. 

 Mabuya fulgida Cope. 



DlPLOGLOSSUS DEGKNKR CopC. 



1868.] 



