6 BATRACHIA. 



little beyond the posterior rim of the orbit. When the mouth is closed, 

 its posterior third is entirely overlapped by a horny expansion of the 

 upper jaw. The teeth, on both jaws, are very minute, slender and 

 acute, disposed upon one irregular row. The vomero -palatine teeth 

 are not conspicuous, and in order to ascertain their presence a magni- 

 fying glass is required. 



The body is subcylindrical ; thickest upon its middle, and dimi- 

 nishing slightly anteriorly, more so posteriorly. The tail, longer than 

 the body and head together, is very much compressed, roundish upon 

 its origin, but very thin towards its posterior extremity. It is pro- 

 vided, above and below, with a membranous, fin-like expansion, 

 extending from near the base to its very tip. 



The fore and hind limbs are almost of the same stoutness and length ; 

 the toes, in both, are depressed. The anterior limbs have four toes, 

 the innermost of which being very small ; the third is the longest ; 

 the second a little shorter than the third ; the fourth, or outermost, 

 being still shorter than the second. There are five toes to the hind 

 limbs ; the innermost, the smallest ; the outermost, a little larger 

 than the latter ; the third, the longest ; the second, a little shorter 

 than the fourth. The extremities are callous in all. 



The skin, owing to the presence of small tubercles, has a granulated 

 appearance throughout. The tubercles are irregularly distributed all 

 over the head, body, tail, and membranous expansion, limbs, toes, and 

 under surface of the body and head ; nearly as thickly beset on one 

 region, as on the other, mayhap, a little more numerous upon the 

 head. The tubercles themselves are smooth ; the intervening space 

 is covered with exceedingly minute granules. 



No sooner immersed in alcohol, specimens contract considerably, 

 and then exhibit folds of the skin, which are not observed on live 

 individuals. There are no systems or series of pores visible upon 

 any region of the body, as is the case in Tritons. Minute pores are 

 scattered all over the body, in the same manner as the tubercles 

 themselves. 



The color of the head, body, and limbs, is brownish-black above ; 

 reddish-brown, in specimens preserved in alcohol. The iris is black. 

 Small light spots may be seen upon the head and anterior portion of 

 the body. The sides of the abdomen and limbs, also the lower por- 

 tion of the tail, are reddish-orange. The inferior surface of the head, 

 belly, and limbs, is dull-yellow or brownish-yellow. 



