32 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



Rana Mascariensis. 



Plate XVI.— Fig. 2. 



Dentibus palatinis in fascicidis hinis ohliquis distantibiis, ad marginem interiorem 

 narium posteriorum attingentibus ; tympano circidari, mediocri ; digitis posticis 

 usque ad phalanges penultimas connexis : plantis tuberculo unico ; cute dorsi loevi, 

 longiludinaliter plicatd ; sicpra fusco-rufescens, fascia longitudinali pallida. 



Rana Mascariensis, Bibr. Hist. Rept. VIII. p. 315. 



Habitat, the Mauritius. 



This pretty species of the typical genus of the family was described by 

 Bibron, but has not hitherto been figured. It was found in Mauritius, on swamps 

 near the sea, by Mr. Darwin, who remarks on the extraordinary height of its 

 leaps. It has also been found in the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Island of 

 Bourbon. 



Genus— LIMNOCHARIS. Bell. 



Lingua ovalis, integra, margine posteriore libera. Dentes palatini utrinque in fasci- 

 culis duobus dispositis, quorum alter ad marginem anteriorem narium interiorum, 

 alter pone nares interiores, prope arcum maxillarem Nasus terminalis, truncatus, 

 ultra labium productus. Tympanum conspicuum, circulare. Cutis omnino IcEvis. 

 Digiti anteriores liberi, posteriores ad basin tantitm palmati. 



The genus Limnocharis is remarkable for the existence of palatine teeth in a 

 part of the mouth in which they have never been observed in any other amphibian. 

 Not only is there a small group or line of these contiguous with the anterior margin 

 of the posterior nares, — a situation in which they are found in some other genera 

 of Ranidce, but there is also a group of them placed at some distance behind the 

 posterior margin of these openings, and close within the rise of the maxillary 

 arch. This genus, of which one species only is at present known, will probably 

 be most naturally placed between the true Ranee and certain of the Cystignathi. 



