1908.] 



BATRACHIANS OF THE GENUS MEGALOPHRYS. 



40^' 



First, he remarks that I am mistaken in describing Megalophrys 

 as with " outer metatarsals iinitecl," in opposition to Pelohates 

 with " outer metatarsals separated by web." He finds that 

 " both frogs agree in the separation by web, only that the web is 

 more extended towards the tip of the toes in Pelohates." The 

 figure given by him of Megalophrys (fig. 92, p. 326) shows, how- 

 ever, that the web does not extend into the metatarsal part of 

 the foot, the outer metatarsal segments being completely bound 

 together by the integument ; whilst in Pelohates, when spread 

 out, they are seen to be separated by a deep groove into which 

 the web penetrates, as m the true Frogs. 



Secondly, Mr. Beddard still thinks the fusion of the coccyx 

 with the sacral vertebra to be an important charactei- in 

 Megalophrys nasuta, although I have shown it to be variable 

 in Pelohates. I find it to be likewise variable in Megalophrys., 

 as may be seen from the following notes on various vertebral 

 columns examined by me : — 



In a dry skeleton of M. montana and in two smaller specimens 

 in spirit of the same species, which I examined when preparing 

 the 'Catalogue of Batrachians ' published in 1882, I found the 

 praisacral vertebrae, 8 in number, opisthoccelous, and the coccyx 

 articulating with the sacral vertebrse by one condyle, as stated by 

 Cope. In another skeleton, which has since been prepared, the 

 vertebrse are proccelous, and the coccyx is likewise distinct from 

 the sacral vertebra. 



In a skeleton of a large M. nasuta, from Kina Balu, in which the 

 dermal ossification forms a complete roof over the 

 skull, similar to but thinner than that of Pelohates 

 cultripes, and not extending over the temples, 

 the vertebral column is as in the second spe- 

 cimen of 31. montana, except that the coccyx is 

 immovably fixed to the sacrum, although the 

 line of separation is visible on the lower aspect. 

 Exactly the same condition obtains in a large 

 M. major. In a smaller specimen of M. nasuta 

 from the same locality the coccyx is quite free 

 from the sacral ver-tebra and the vertebrae are 

 opisthoccelous. 



The vertebrae are proccelous or opisthoccelous 

 in M. longipes, and the coccyx is completely 

 fused with the sacrum. 



In several specimens of M. parvus the ver- 

 tebrae are proccelous and the coccyx is free and 

 movable. 



A skeleton of M. pelodytoides is interesting as 

 showing an anomaly somewhat similar to one described by Howes 

 in Bombinator "^ . Anomalies, we know, are frequent in the: 

 Discoglossidae and also in Pelohates t. There are two triangular 



* Proc. Anat. Soc. 1890, p. xvi, fig. 



t Cf. Adolphi, Mx)rphoI. Jahrb. xx. 1895, p. 449, pi. xix. 



Text-fig. 78. 



Vertebra] column 



of Megalophrys 



pelodytoides, 



ventral aspect. 



