Miscellaneous. 150 



Besci'iption of a new Genus of Tree-frogs, from Ecuador. 



By W. Peters. 



Plectromantis, nov. gen. 



Tongue elongated, posteriorly slightly emarginated and free. Palatal 

 teeth. Tympanum distinct. Orifices of the Eustachian tubes nearly 

 twice as large as the choanse. A large elongated gland between the 

 angle of the mouth and the shoulder, and over the latter a larger 

 triangular one, less distinctly bounded above and behind. Fingers 

 free, rounded at the tip, without adhesive disks ; the metacarpus of 

 the thumb and of the first finger armed each with a conical, pointed, 

 hard spine. Toes free, thin, with narrow membranous borders, and 

 with distinct, but small, broad adhesive disks at the apex ; a flattened 

 elongated knob at the base of the metatarsus of the first toe, and a 

 smaller roundish one at that of the fifth. Transverse processes of 

 the sacral vertebra narrow. 



This genus is therefore very nearly allied to HylodeSy and is di- 

 stinguished therefrom by the presence of parotids and the two re- 

 markable spines on the inner side of the hand. 



Plectromantis fFagneri, nov. spec. 



The present species has at the first glance exactly the form of a 

 Rana temporaria with rather thin toes. The head is as broad as long, 

 with a somew^hat prominent rounded snout. The nostrils are trans- 

 versely oval, and are rather more distant from each other than from 

 the apex of the snout, whilst their distance from the eyes is distinctly 

 greater. The diameter of the very distinct tympanum is equal to the 

 distance of the nostrils from each other, and amounts only to four- 

 sevenths of the largest diameter of the eyes. The eyes are very pro- 

 minent, and the inner transparent fold of the lower eyelid (the so- 

 called nictitating membrane) is greatly developed. The intermaxillary 

 and maxillary teeth are closely approximated, and have their points 

 directed a little inwards and backwards. The palatal teeth stand at 

 some distance behind the widely separated choanse, upon two curved 

 processes the convexity of which is anterior ; they occupy about half 

 the width of the palate. The skin of the body appears smooth, with 

 the exception of the somewhat wrinkled sides. The anterior ex- 

 tremity exceeds the muzzle by the entire hand. The first finger 

 extends beyond the second, which is a little shorter than the last, 

 but considerably shorter than the last but one. The spines on the 

 inside of the metacarpus are I5 millim. in length, and have the 

 appearance of pointed warts ; they are very hard, and appear to con- 

 sist of a bony process, covered with a horny coat. The toes increase 

 very considerably in length from the first to the fourth. The fourth 

 toe is nearly twice as long as the third (19:11); whilst the fifth is 

 intermediate between the second and third. The colour of the upper 

 surface of the body and extremities is dark brown, and exhibits a few 

 indistinct darker sj)ots. The lower part of the sides of the body, the 

 belly, the inner and outer surfaces of the thighs, and also the inside 



