248 BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The Discoglossidae must be regarded as the most primitive family of the 

 Anura, as it shows none of these peculiar modifications, and presents 

 the greatest resemblance to the salamanders in its ribs and opisthocoel 

 vertebrae, and to other primitive types in its split sternum. In the 

 accompanying diagram these affinities are expressed, and a possible 

 phylogeuy is indicated. That the latter will prove largely correct is 

 shown by the x)resence of Discoglossidfe in the Miocene beds of Prussia, 

 particularly near Bonn. The paleontology of the Salientia is, however, 

 very imperfectly known. 



Ranidse. Cystignathiclffi. Scapbiopidse. 



EugystomidjE. \ CeratobatracbidEe,. 



Hylidte 



Pelodytida; 



Asteropiiry di d se. 



Discogiossidse.- 



Bnfouidw. 



Xenopidce. PipidsB. 



The Arcifera and Firmisternia each exhibit parallel modifications of 

 structure, which may be represented as follows in tabular form : 



AiiCiFEivA . Firmisternia. 



L Without teeth. 

 a. Witb sacral diapopbj ses dilated. 



SBrevicipitidiB. 

 EngystomidsB. 

 PbryniscidiB. 

 da. Sacral diapopbyses cylindric. 



Dendropbryiiiscidic Dendrobatidte. 



II. Witli pveniaxillary aiul maxillary teetb only. 

 (x. Witli sacral diapopbyses dilattd. 

 Pelodytida^ \ 



Pelobatidaj V j Dyscopbidse. 



Hylidffi. .. ) ^ Copbylidaj. 



acx. Witb sacral diapopbyses cylindric. 



Cystignatbida^. j Colostetbidte. 



c Eaiiidaj. 

 in. Teetb ill both jaws. 

 a. Sacral diapopbyses not dilated. 



Ampbignatbodontidae } /-( j^ , ^ , . ■, 



„ . f ^ , > Ceratobatracbidae. 



HemixibractidiB ) 



