GREEN-BACKED TREE-TOAD. 365 



inches. All the toes joined by a membrane ; the 

 fore feet rather semipalmated ; all the toes, except 

 that answering to the great toe, which in this animal 

 is very short, having broad, round, soft, and spongy 

 extremities. Most of the joints on the inside of the 

 feet had lesser sponges, which, being clammy, enable 

 these creatures to ascend the loftiest trees with the 

 greatest ease and facility. The toe corresponding to 

 the thumb in man, answered much the same purpose 

 in this creature, which by this member arrested one 

 of my fingers. The head is of a cordate form ; the 

 eyes large and prominent ; the irides speckled in a 

 manner so elegant as to exceed description. The 

 space beyond the eyes is hollowed, and rough like a 

 file. Ears covered with a purplish membrane. The 

 body, when inflated, taper and triangular. Body, 

 above, dull green, as were the anterior parts of the 

 thighs. Sides near the groin, shy-blue spotted ivith 

 purple. Abdomen beneath the thighs covered with 

 small tubercles of a dull flesh-colour. Feet, both 

 fore and hind, purple, and clouded with the same as 

 the hind part of the thighs. Mouth extremely wide ; 

 tongue fixed. Under the jaw whitish red, or incar- 

 nate, with purple spots" 



From a carefully coloured drawing which accom- 

 panies the above description, it is evident that this is 

 congenerous with my Lichened Tree-toad ; but the 

 colours are so different as to warrant the conclusion 

 that it forms another species. The green hue of the 

 upper parts, destitute, apparently, of the marbled 

 intermingling of other colours, which is so character- 

 istic of all the described Tracliycephali, the sky-bJue 



