190 ON THE FAMILIES OF THE RANIFORM ANURA. 



oblique, the scapula and suprascapula directed forwards, and bordering closely the 

 cranium, the latter element exhibiting the anomaly among the Batrachia, of a liga- 

 mentous articulation with the condyloid extremity of the prootic bone. If we com- 

 pare with Engystomidag, the clavicle appears to be similarly wanting, and most 

 probably the epicoracoid {procoracoid Gegenbauer), while the coracoids are dilated, 

 and abut against each other closely. The xiphisternum is slender, and attached 

 at its posterior extremity to the similar ends of a cylindrical bone which extends 

 posteriorly from the glenoid cavity to meet its fellow on the middle of the abdominal 

 line. ■ This piece might naturally be supposed to be the coracoid, especially in view 

 of the obliquity of the superior limb of the scapular arch. Giinther has apparently 

 so identified it, by terming the anterior element the clavicle. This anterior element, 

 however, appears in its origin, form and position, to be truly homologous with that 

 determined heretofore to be the coracoid in the Brevicipitidte and Engystomidaj, and, 

 as in the latter family, the acromion projects forwards without giving rise to the 

 claviculus, indicating that that element is absent. The posterior osseous element may 

 then be termed the postcoracoid. If this determination be correct, the genus Hemisus 

 becomes the type of a tribe (or sub-order) of equal isolation as the Aglossa, Arcifera, 

 and Raniformia, which may be called the Gastrechmia, characterized as follows : 



Eustachian tubes not roofed by pterygoids, tongue present; coracoids abutting, no 

 arched cartilages ; a postcoracoid ; suprascapula having a ligamentous articulation 

 with prootic. 



Should, however, the two elements to be determined to bt; epicoracoid and coracoid 

 by the examination of the younger stages of tlie genus, it may still remain the type 

 of a distinct tribe defined by their divergence and single cartilaginous connection, 

 and the suspension of the scapular arch. It may be said in favor of this view, that 

 the supposed coracoid has a short distal posterior fissure, similar to the groove of the 

 claviculus which usually embraces the epicoracoid. 



RANIFORMIA. 



Coracoidei abutting; epicoracoidei, when present, continiious transverse, and abutting 

 on coracoidei; not connected with the latter by overlapping longitudinal cartilages. 

 I. Bufonoid Raniformia. 



No teeth on the maxillary or premaxillary bones. 

 Epicoracoidei present ; sacrum with dilated triangular diapophyses, 



confluent with coccygeal style. Two lobes of the liver, . . Brevicipitidaj. 

 Epicoracoidei wanting; sacrum distinct from coccygeal style, with 



dilated triangular diapophyses. Two lobes of the liver, . . Engystomidas. 



Epicoracoidei present; sacrum distinct from coccygeal style, with 



dilated triangular diapophyses. Two or three lobes of the liver, . Phryniscidae. 



