gQ BATRACHIA. 



OBSERV. The head and body of this species present a most bufo- 

 nine appearance, whilst the limbs and toes would rather recall to 

 mind a Rana, or better, a Cyetignathue. If we add that it is possessed 

 of large and circular eyes, and that the body is covered with con- 

 spicuous warts, its physiognomy will assume a combination of both the 

 bufonine and ranine groups. 



DESCR. The head is much broader than long, maintaining its 

 width towards the snout, the periphery of which is rounded. Its 

 surface is concave, from the occiput to the extremity of the snout, 

 assuming the aspect of an open groove, broadest posteriorly, tapering 

 anteriorly, and bordered laterally by the canthus rostralis and a slight 

 ridge along the inner edge of the orbit ; upon the occiput the groove 

 is even with the surface of the body. The canthus rostralis, itself, is 

 well developed, and by the union of the two ridges upon the snout, 

 constitutes a prominence, beneath which and close to the end of the 

 snout, are situated the oblique and elongated nostrils. Just in advance 

 of the eye, the canthus rostralis is considerably swollen into a kind of 

 pyramid, whence a ridge extends downwards to near the inferior rim 

 of the orbit. There is also a prominent, postocular ridge. The eyes 

 are very large, circular ; their diameter is greater than the distance 

 between their anterior rim and the extremity of the snout. The 

 upper lid is thick and covered with warts and granules. The inter- 

 ocular space, measured across the middle of the eyeball, is nearly 

 equal to the rostral distance in advance of the eye. The parotids are 

 of medium size, subelliptical, contiguous to the postocular ridge, and 

 overlapping the tympanum as much as the ridge itself. The pores are 

 minute and crowded, and the surface of the gland is covered with 

 granules, more conspicuous than the pores themselves. The tym- 

 panum is proportionally small, occupying a kind of depression, which 

 is rendered more apparent by the elevation of the postocular ridge 

 and the projection of the parotids, though situated near the lower part 

 of the side of the head. The mouth is very broadly cleft ; the upper 

 jaw is emarginated. The inner nostrils are very large and subcircular. 

 The tongue is rather thin, narrowest anteriorly, where it is slightly 

 bifurcated. The openings of the Eustachian tubes are comparatively 

 small, but quite distinct. 



The limbs are long and slender, and so are the fingers and toes. 

 The first finger is longer than the second and almost as long as the 



