THE BATRACHIA OF NORTH AMERICA. 237 



in the Salieutia they are coutiiieut with each other. In Xeuopus (Phite 

 54, fig. 18) tlie thalameuccphalou is more eutensivelj^ exposed than in 

 other Salientia.* 



The form of the liver does not differ from the usual t3^pe in any 

 of the various species examined, except in the Finnisternia. While 

 most Salientia have this organ divided into three lobes, there are but 

 two in the Brevicipitidie, Engystomidoe, and some of the Phryniscidse. 

 In the alimentary canal there appears to be little variety in important 

 points. The stomach has generally a more longitudinal position than 

 among Bufoniformia, except among Scaphiopidiie and in Oeratophrys, 

 where it is equally' transverse. IsTo intestinal valves were observed in 

 Pelobates, Ilyla, Phyllomedusa, Oeratophrys, but a strong pyloric mus- 

 cular constriction in Plenrodema, and one at the extremity of the small 

 intestine in Gi/stignathns pachypiis. (Plates 53-55.) 



The testes are single in examples of all ths types examined, and not 

 strictly symmetrical ; they are variously situated with reference to the 

 kidneys. Tlius in Ranoidea aurea, and Tracliycephalus Hchcnatiis they 

 are elongate and at the middle of the length of the kidneys, while in 

 Hypishoas hocms and Scytojiis renulosus they are oval, and one or both at 

 the anterior extremity of the latter. In Phyllomedusa scleroderma they 

 are more than half the length of the broad kidneys, the right originating 

 at the anterior extremity of the latter, the left but little behind it. Both 

 have their posterior apices in close contact at the posterior fourth of 

 the length of the kidneys, which are in close connection for their poste- 

 rior third. In Discoglossus the testes are oviform, well separated, and 

 anterior, and during the breeding season attain a remarkably large 

 size. During the same in Gystignatlius pachyinis they are not materially 

 enlarged, are elongate, and only in contact with the kidneys for a 

 small posterior part of their length. 



The ovaries and oviducts do not essentially vary among the Salientia 

 When the latter are fully occupied by eggs in an advanced stage they 

 are folded, but differently in the same species. The oviducts are re- 

 markably slender in Hyla nasuta (Litoria Giinther), and in Scytojiis the 

 fontanelle is on each side behind the partial diaphragm, at the superior 

 anterior outer angles of the liver. In several young female specimens 

 of Ranoidea aurea of the size of Rana silvaUca, in which the frontop- 

 arietal fontanelle is not closed, the oviducts do not extend farther an- 

 terior than the ovaries; in adults, with the cranium complete, they 

 have the usual extent. In Gystignathus ocellatus the "uterine" sacs at 

 the exit of the oviducts are of great size, and at certain seasons dis 

 tended with an albuminous gelatine, when they present several convo- 

 lutions. In spirits they occasion the presence of a large convoluted 

 mass of coagulum. 



* For descriptions aud figures of braius of Urodela, Proteida, aud Tracliystomata, 

 see Osborn ; (Aniphiiima), Proceeds. Pliila. Acad., 1883, p. 177; (CryptoTjraucbus and 

 Raua), ?. c, IBS'^, p. 2(3i3; Corpus calJosum, Morpliologisclies Jalirbnch, 1836, pp. 223, 

 530; also Wiedersheim, Anatomic der Gvin'.inpliioneii, Jeua, 1879. 



