fey | 
REPTILES. 
PHYLLOBATES AURATUS, Girard. 
Prare XXXIV, Figs. 12—15. 
Spec. coar. Tongue narrow and elongated, free for about the half or two-thirds of its length; 
anterior limbs, when stretched backwards, reaching the vent with the tip of longest finger ; 
inferior surface of thighs granular ; color uniform bluish brown. 
Syv. Phyllobates auratus, Grp. Proc, Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 226. 
Descr. The body is elongated and depressed, as well as the head, which constitutes a little 
less than the third of the whole length ; seen from above, the head is subtriangular, subtrun- 
cated anteriorly, and sloping inwardly. The nostrils are small, situated on the sides and tow- 
ards the tip of the snout, and not to be seen from above; the sides of the head are declivous. 
The eyes are well developed, subelliptical in form, their horizontal diameter being equal to the 
distance between the anterior rim of the orbit and the tip of the snout, and comprised a little 
over twice upon the distance between the external margins of the upper eyelids. The tym- 
panum is well developed, oblong in shape, and vertically situated close to the orbit. The 
angle of the mouth extends as far back as the posterior rim of the orbit. The tongue is nar- 
row and elongated, posteriorly obtuse, and free for about the half or two-thirds of its length. 
The inner nares are very large and subcircular, situated far apart on the sides of the roof of 
the mouth, which is concave and perfectly smooth, there being no teeth on either the vomer or 
palatine bones. The openings for the tubes of eustachii are small, and not conspicuous. The 
anterior limbs are slender, the fingers stretching beyond the groin. The fingers are free, slen- 
der, depressed, and dilated upon their tips; upper surface of the dilation divided by a medial 
groove or furrow. There is a large metacarpal tubercle ; smaller tubercles are observed under 
the first phalanx, and under the second of the two external fingers. The palm of the hand is 
smooth. The first finger is longer than the second; the fourth is the shortest, and the most 
slender of all. The hind limbs are stoutish, one-fourth longer than the body and head 
together—the tibia being more developed than the femur. The toes are free, slender, de- 
pressed and dilated upon their extremities, and grooved above in the same manner as the 
fingers. The sole of the foot is smooth, and the inferior surface of all the phalanges provided 
with very small tubercles. The internal metatarsal tubercle is elongated, the external one 
rounded ; both of moderate development. The inferior surface of the thighs is granular; the 
skin is otherwise perfectly smooth; its surface, under the magnifying glass, exhibits very 
minute pores, scarcely more developed under the belly than on the back. The color above is 
metallic golden, whilst beneath a uniform bluish brown predominates. 
Collected by the late Professor C. B. Adams, on the island of Taboga, in the bay of Panama. 
Plate XXXIV, fig. 12, represents Phyllobates auratus in a profile view, size of life. 
fig. 13, is a view from beneath. 
fig. 15, a hand, seen from below. 
fig. 15, a foot, also from below. 
Figs. 14 and 15 are slightly magnified. 
OP AIDA. 
FAMILY OF VIPERIDZ. 
Genus ELAPS, Schn. 
Gen. car. Body slender and cylindrical; tail short and conical; head somewhat depressed— 
in most cases continuous with the body, subelliptical when viewed from above, tapering for- 
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