

June 22, 1858. 

 Dr. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the (hair. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Systematic Arrangement of the Tailless Ba- 



trachians and the structure of ruinol'h kynus dor- 

 salis. By Dr. Albert Gunther. 



The organ which in the tailless Batrachians offers the most re- 

 markable character, and which is most closely connected with the 

 mode of their life, is the tongue. "Wagler has already separated from 

 the other Ruuidrc a group without tongue, Aglossce, comprising all 

 other RanuUe under the name Phaneroglosscp, which have a tongue 

 entirely adherent in front. This division was also afterwards accepted 

 by Bibron, who changed the name of Aglossce into that of Phryno- 

 glotste. The separation of the first group appears the more justifi- 

 able, as Mullet came to the same result by another principle. I 

 now add a third form, hitherto very imperfectly known, and the 

 tongue of which is not yet described. Rhinophrynus dorsal is is the 

 only Batrachian which has a tongue free in front, with the anterior 

 tip capable of being stretched out of the mouth. The details are as 

 follows: — The base of the cavity of the mouth is occupied by the 

 tongue. The front part of this organ is rather narrow and cylindrical, 

 with an obtuse rounded tip, of a similar shape to that of one of the 

 small Rodentia ; the front part is quite free ; somewhat anterior to the 

 middle of its length it is fixed to the base of the mouth by a frenu- 

 lum ; behind this it becomes gradually broader, and is fixed on eacli 

 >ide by a muscular pad. The hinder edge i-- rounded, not notched, 

 entirely adherent, and exhibiting only a transverse Blightly prominent 

 swelling. The tongue is entirely soft, with a velvet-like surface, 

 covered with papilla filiformes, which gradually become longer 

 behind. And whereas the front tij) of the tongue is again capable 

 of being stretched out of the mouth, both halves of the mtuctt/tM 

 geniogloasua are well developed, forming the very base of the cavity 

 of the mouth. 



I propose to divide the Batrachia anura into three groups : — 



A. Aglossa : B. a. without tongue. 



B. Opisthofflossa : Ji. a. with a tongue adherent in front, and 

 more or less free behind. 



('. I'rn/eroglossa : B. n. with a tongue free in front and adherent 

 behind. 



We lind by far the greatest development and tl ; variety 



of forms in the Becond group; and therefore I prefer to consider the 

 principles of further division first in this group, hoping to obtain in 



tlii-^ way points of view according to which we may characterise a. k1 



