74 ON THE STRUCTURES AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE 



cular clavicle of birds, Monotremata, and Lacertilia, (where it is often called raeso- 

 sternum.) which view possesses much in its favor ; but the presence of the arched 

 cartilages connecting coracoids and acromials, in addition to the presence of the 

 furcular and true clavicles in Lacertilia, opens the position to objection, and renders 

 it quite possible that neither kind of clavicle exists among the Anura.* The question 

 is therefore open to further investigation. 



That the tj'pe of Arcifera is inferior to that of Raniformia, the structure of the 

 sternum renders clear ; it is also proven by the most usual undeveloped condition of 

 the cranium in the former, its completeness in the latter, and the usual imperfection 

 of what exists of the sternum, i. e., the manubrium and xiphisternum, in the former, 

 contrasted with its developement in the latter. 



The Bufoniformia extend still lower, adding to the inferior sternum, the larval 

 character of want of teeth ; in many of the types, however, the sternum approaches, 

 but never equals, the form of the Ranidae, and offers a mark of superiority equivalent 

 to the presence of teeth in the Arcifera. 



C. Bruch, in an article on the Anura,t contends that' the Bufones are the most 

 elevated of this order, on account of their greater intelligence of movement, persist- 

 ency of object, and adaptability. But this cannot weigh against developmental con- 

 siderations, and is moreover a common order of things. The superior Quadrumana 

 have every appearance of inferior intelligence to the dog or elephant . the Corvidse 

 are much more intelligent than the superior Turdidte, and Woodward complains that 

 the Maiid crabs are psychically much inferior to the Cancrid family, which are 

 structurally below them. Perhaps this " intelligence " is only impressihility and 

 educahility, features which distinguish the young from the adult man as well, and are 

 not consistent with that stamp of peculiarity fixed upon types by the greater length 

 of their developmental scale. 



DISCOGLOSSIDjE. 



Vertebrae opisthocoelian.J Diapophyses of sacrum dilated. First coccygeal verte- 

 bra united as usual with the second or style, but furnished with posteriorly divergent 

 diapophyses, and attached to the sacral by two cotyloid cavities (with one exception). 

 Short ribs articulated to the anterior diapophyses.§ Ossa fronto-parietalia enclosing 

 a fontanelle (in existing genera). External metatarsi more or less separated by a 

 web. Terminal phalanges continuous, simple. Xiphisternum of two slender postero- 



* Vid. Natural Hist. Rev., 1. c, where 1 have taken this view. 



t Which contains much of interest, and advanced views on the systematic. position of the European Arcifera. 

 See Wurtzbiirger Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift, 1862, 222. 

 X Observed by Duges and Gervais in Alytes. 

 'i Noticed by Duges in Alytes and Bombinator, and Dumoril in Disroglossiis. 



