396 MR. F. E. BEJDDARD ON THE ANATOMY 



proportions were the same, the Frog being about l'5--2 mm. longer 

 with a corresponding increase of length of from '5-1 mm. in the 

 sternal measurements. 



It is, as is well known, the general rule among the Arciferous 

 Batrachia Salientia that the right epicoracoidal cartilage should 

 overlap the left ventrally. This was the case in three ovit of the 

 four examples of Megalophrys fece which I have had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining (see text-fig. 125, p. 394). In the fourth, 

 however, the converse condition occurred. It may be that this 

 individual is of a different species ; and yet I cannot find from 

 a study of Mr. Boulenger's table of classification * any grounds 

 for identifying this individual with other species desciibed by 

 him. It is, however, rather different in appearance from the 

 other Frogs ; its build is more slender, the pelvic width is less, 

 and the dorsal depression is much deeper and with a more arched 

 upper bordering ridge. Other depressions upon the head are also 

 more marked, I could not, however, detect any other external 

 diff"erences. All the four specimens, I should observe, are males. 



In view of the fact that the omosternum is already known to 

 differ among the species of Megalophrys (contrast, for example, 

 M. montana and M. nasuta), it is important to note the condition 

 in Megalophrys f ecu. In this species (see text-fig. 126) it is, in 

 fact, quite as well-developed as in Megalofhrys nasuta, from 

 which, however, it differs in various details. Its total length is 

 8 mm,, which represents a size proportionately equal to, or not 

 very different from, that of Megalophrys nasuta. The epicoracoids 

 are firmly attached to the basal portion of the omosternum, which 

 shows a trace of its double origin (?from the two epicoracoids) in 

 that it is divided longitudinally by a white fibrous seam. This 

 part of the omosternum is, in fact, precisely as is figured by 

 W. K. Parker t in Fseudis. In addition to this there is a 

 distal piece which is single and not divided longitudinally, but 

 which is divided off" by a seam from the basal portion of the 

 omostei'num. This piece is cheese-cutter-shaped, as shown in 

 text-fig. 126. 



§ The Ilyoid and its Musculature. 



The hyoid cartilages and bones, as I have already pointed out, 

 present some differences among the various species of Megalophrys 

 (s. I.). I have therefore attempted a careful study of this portion 

 of the skeleton in Megalophrys fece. The basal cartilage of the 

 hyoid has the usual broad form found in the allies of this species ; 

 of this the processus anteriores are bowed inwards anteriorly 

 almost to meet in front of the exit from the hyoid region of the 

 hyoglossal muscle. This condition of the processes in question 

 has apparently, as I have already pointed out, some systematic 

 importance. The hyoglossal sinus, thus nearly converted into a 



* P. Z. S. 1908, p. 410. , . • . ^ 



t 'A Monograph of the ShouIdcr-Girdle/ Kay Soc. Publ. 1868, pl.Ti. fig. 7. ' 



