PYXICEPHALUS ADSPERSUS. 



Teeth rather strong, closely set, and slightly curved inwards; the lower jaw 

 anteriorly has three prominent triangular processes, the intermediate one the 

 shortest, and all three, when the jaws are closed, are received into depressions 

 in the upper formed to admit them. Palatal teeth in two small clusters, one 

 in front of the inner extremity of the internal opening of each nostril. The 

 anterior extremities are short and nearly cylindrical, the toes four, strong, 

 conical, and very short, the outermost the longest, and the innermost but one 

 the shortest. The hinder extremities are powerful, but short when compared 

 with the size of the frog ; toes five, cylindrical and tapered to a point, the 

 second, reckoning from the outside of the foot, very long, the first and third 

 of equal length and much shorter, the other two very short ; all connected at 

 their base by a rudimentary web. Immediately posterior to the inner toe, 

 particularly of the hinder feet, there is a large and hard compressed tubercle 

 with the edge directed towards the middle of the foot rather sharp, somewhat 

 keeled, and the under surface of each of the joints of the toes are cushioned 

 with a pulpy granule or tubercle more or less developed. Tympanum nearly 

 circular, about four lines in diameter, and situated directly over the angle of 

 the mouth. The surface of the head, back, sides, and outer parts of the 

 hinder extremities is rough and granular, and between the granulations of the 

 hindhead, back, and sides, the skin is in various places puckered, so as to form 

 prominent longitudinal ruga?, as represented in plate. The granulations on the 

 hinder portion of the back and on the posterior extremities, especially towards 

 the body, are larger and less numerous than on the other parts where they 

 occur. The fore legs, the inner surface of the hinder legs, and the under 

 parts of the head and body smooth. Tongue large, ovate, and deeply emar- 

 ginate behind. Length of hinder legs G, of fore legs 3 inches. Length of 

 head and body 5j inches ; width of head posteriorly 3, of body 4j inches 



This frog is far from being generally diffused in South Africa, although it exists in localities 

 very distant from each other. The only individuals I found within the colony were towards the 

 eastern boundary, where it was familiarly spoken of by the inhabitants under the name 

 of " Bull Frog," so called from the strength and hoarseness of the sounds it emits, parti- 

 cularly during the night. It lives generally in water, and is only seen in it, or at least in its 

 immediate vicinity. The inhabitants report it to appear only during the rainy season, and 

 at other times, from there being no water, in the localities where they observe it existing 

 during the period mentioned, they are of opinion that it conceals itself in the mud which 

 remains after the water disappears, and that it continues in it till called forth afresh by a renewed 

 supply of water. No opportunity occurred to me of testing the accuracy of the conclusion, 

 therefore I would only observe, I have seen probably fifty in a temporary poo! of water, and at 

 a great distance from any spot where water existed during the entire of the year. 



