64 M. Quinton on Animal Temperature as a 



brown above, with numerous dark olive cross-bands, most of 

 which are broken up on the vertebral line, their moities alter- 

 nating ; head uniform dark olive ; whitish beneath, closely 

 speckled with dark brown. 



Total length 455 millim. ; tail 80. 



Jampea Island ; a single specimen. 



Sphenophryne variabilis. 



Tongue large, oval, entire. Snout short, rounded, with 

 feebly marked canthus ; interorbital space broader than the 

 upper eyelid ; tympanum feebly distinct, two thirds or three 

 fourths the diameter of the eye. Tips of fingers dilated into 

 very large disks ; first finger shorter than second ; toes short, 

 free, the disks much smaller than those of the fingers ; no 

 subarticular or metatarsal tubercles. Skin smooth. Colora- 

 tion very variable. Grey, brown, purple, pink, or crimson 

 above, uniform or with darker marblings, or with a lighter 

 yellow or pink lateral streak ; a light vertebral line sometimes 

 present; sides of head usually dark brown; a dark, light- 

 edged ocellus may be present on the lumbar region ; beneath 

 uniform whitish, or greyish with yellow spots, or dark brown 

 wit!) yellow spots. 



From snout to vent 28 millim. 



Bonthain Peak, Celebes, 5000-6500 feet ; numerous 

 specimens were collected by the Drs. Sarasin and by 

 Mr. A. Everett. 



Vlll. — Animal Temperatu7'e as a part of the Problem of 

 Evolution. By M. QuiNTON*. 



I. — The temperature which governs the chemical reactions of 

 life depends upon two factors — (1) the temperature of the 

 surrounding medium, (2) the calorific power proper to the 

 animal. The temperature of the surrounding medium in this 

 respect is of such importance that the isocrymal lines or tlie 

 lines of greatest cold are confused with the lines indicating 

 the distribution of species on the surface of the globe. 



Fossil flora discloses the fact that the temperature of the 

 globe has been always on the decline; in ancient epochs it 

 was very high. "We must therefore ask under what thermic 

 conditions the chemical phenomena of life were carried on, 



• From the 'Comptes Rendus,' tome cxxii. pp. 850-853 (1896). 



