THE IJATUACHIA OF NUHTII AMKRICA. 



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(ieiKMul form very thick ami iiiassivc, altliougli tlic lii'ad is propor. 

 tioiially small in mature specimens; not as broad as the hody. The 

 skin appears cpiite smooth when fresh, esjtecially when covered with 

 its epidermis. On removing this, however, the skin is seen every where 

 closely covered with shallow pits, interspersed with yranuh like pro- 

 jections of (he ylands. There is an indistinct line of i»ores on each side 

 of the head interior to the eye, but they can be scarcely traced else- 

 where. 



The parotoid rejjion is innch swollen, w ider than the skull, and about 

 e(|ual to the <listance from snout to j;ular fold. The width of tin- Jaws 

 is contained about four and one-half times in the distance to the j;roin, 

 ii little more than the to the end of the anus. Tin* jiular fold is very 

 ilistinct, and even overlappinji'. The };ro(»ves behind the jaws and from 

 the eye, oblicjuely alonfj the side ol the head and neck, are also very 

 strongly marked. 



The eyes are moderate; not prominent; the pupils circular. They are 

 distant from the nostrils one orbit lengtli and separated anteriorly '2k 

 oriiits; the nostrils art' separated one orbit. There is a decided con- 

 striction at tin; neck. 



The body is swollen and Iar};e, a little di pressed; its circumferenco 

 at the wulest is nine li'Uths the distance from sui ut tn ;4rnin. There 

 are twelve well marked costal furrows from fore to hind Wy:, and live 

 pelvic: the foiiiih and tiftli unitin<;' just Itehind the anus. 



The tail is about cMpial to the distaiu-e from snout to j^iitiu; it is sub- 

 quadrate at base; l.\ as higli as widt', but iiccomcs iMUiinliately oval in 

 sectittu, larjicr below, and more and more comprcsMMl to ilic tij'. The 

 <'d;;es arc, however, rounded to the terminal third, wheie tlie\ ;^radually 

 becomi' sharp. 



The leys are stout, thickened, and lather sliort in proportion. The 

 di;fits are much depressed; short, tiiauiiiilar in sliaoc. tapcrini; from 

 the broad oase to tln' tips, which are lianbiu'd and soniewhal horny in 

 ajipearance. The tree porti( n of {\\v lou;.;cst is about one tliirtl the 

 total len;;th of the liml> from elliow »u' kut ( ; soiiu'tiuu's even les-;. In 

 the individuals whicli live on land the di;;its appear louder and more, 

 eyiiinlrical. The expanse of the ontstretchcil toes is aiioiit four tilths 

 the distance from snout to ;^roin. 



The ton;iUe is lU'sliy, iuDad, altoul half the width ol the head, ami 

 with the outline of the papillose portion siiglitl\ eniar;;iinite behind. 



Th(^ palatine teeth of this spech s e\ten<l aeioss :he palate very 

 neail\ from one side of the upju'r jaw to the othei-. The series is 

 tuny inleiiupted alony tlu' nu'dian line: sometimes scarcely so. TIh* 

 iini' is obtusely an;:ularly loumled aiiterinil\. the concavity behind 

 riMciiing' forward to alxuit (tpposite the middle of the iiifeiiial iiares. 

 The slij;hlly convex anterior luam-hes divei'^-e backwards regularly 

 nearly to the line of the inner narcs. where the aui^le of diverj^ence lie- 

 •!omes still yrealer, and the line l>ecomes lu-arly straiyhl or even eon- 

 cave uiiteriorly. 



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