296 BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



PELODYTID.E.* 



Vertebrae procceloas; no libs or diapophyses of coccyx. Sacriini 

 uuited with tbe coccyx by condyle, its diapophyses dilated. 



The species of this family are of weak organization 5 the fronto 

 parietal bones are undeveloped in one of the four genera embraced by 

 it, aud they are very weak iu the others. Their affinities are altogether 

 between the Asterophrydidse and Scaphiopodidse. Their vertebrae only 

 distinguish them from the former and their distinct bicondyloid coccyx 

 from the latter. In the known genera the auditory apparatus is devel 

 oped, and the cephalic integument is free; in none is there a metatar- 

 sal shovel. 



ex. sternum with an osseous style. 



No tlentary apophysis; no vomeriue teeth; tongue broad, but little free; tym- 

 panum distinct ; one postsacral condyle Xenophrys. 



Frontoparietal bones complete; no vomerine teeth; one sacral condyle for uro- 



style ; tongue partially free Lej)tobrachium^ 



Frontoparietal bones embracing a largo fontanelle ; vomerine teeth ; two sacral 

 condyles for the coccyx ; a weak parotoid gland ; pupil elliptic, erect ; tongue 



partially free; atlas and axis confluent Pelodytes. 



da. Sternum without osseous style. 



Frontoparietal bones complete ; vomerine teeth ; two postsacral condyles. 



Balracliops'is. 



In the species of Leptobrachium and Pelodytes the external meta 

 tarsi are bound together ; in the only known species of Batrachopsis 

 they are, according to Boulenger, slightly separated. 



This family has a peculiar distribution. Pelodytes is European, 

 Xenophrys and Leptobrachium are Palaeotropical, aud Batrachopsis, 

 Australian (Xew Guinea). 



SOAPHIOPID^.* 



Cope, Journ. Ac. Phila., 1866, p. 69; Nat. Hist. Rev., 1865, p. 11, pars, 



Pehhatidw Lataste, Actes Soc, Linn., Bordeaux, xxx, 339, pars; Boulenger Catal, 

 Batr. Sal. Brit. Mus. Ed. ii, 1882, p. 432, pars. 



Vertebrae procoelian ; no costal elements or coccygeal diapophyses ; 

 diapophyses of ninth vertebra much dilated, thin, and triangular; nro 

 style without condyloid articulation, its axial portion restricting that 

 of the sacrum and connate with it: external metatarsi bound ; distal 

 phalanges continuous, simple. Manubrium cartilaginous. Tongue 

 rounded, nearly entire. 



The small number of species embraced in this family are of stout 

 toad-like habit, and furnished with a shovel-like development of the 

 cuneiform bone aud a coriaceous posterior digital palmation, to aid 

 them iu removing earth wliile making their subterranean abodes. 

 Many of them very seldom come to the surface of the earth, and then 

 only in darkness; for this habit the vertical cat-like pupil is an adapta- 

 tion, a peculiarity not exhibited by the toads, which are crepuscular. 

 __ __ * Plate 68, 



