206 ON THE FAMILIES OF THE RANIFORM ANURA. 



form would refer it to the HemiphractidEe, but the form of the sacrum separates it. 

 The form of the cranium, with its broad outline and narrow brain-case, and of the 

 body in general, are nearest to Pithecopsis and Cyclorhamphus, though the form of 

 the sacrum separates it again. If referred to the Pelodytidas, it will be the type of a 

 group in the fiimily characterized as follows : 



Fronto-parietal bones fully developed; xiphisternum an emarginate cartilaginous 

 shield ; coccygeal style attached to two condyles ; toes webbed. 



Grtpiscus umbrintjs Cope, sp. nov. 



General form that of Scaphiopus holbrookii. It bears also some resemblance 

 to Pithecopsis ful i g inos us, but has the vomerine chevron directed in the opjjosite 

 direction, the hind limb, especially the foot, shorter, no inguinal glands, and a differ- 

 ent coloration. 



Tympanum quite small, and entirely concealed by the derm; ostia pharyngea half 

 size of-choanas. Vomerine teeth in two arched series, which are directed backwards 

 from the inner hinder margin of choanse, leaving considerable interval between. 

 Heel of extended leg to back of orbit. Width of cranium at jaws two and one-third 

 in length head and body, twice from end muzzle to posterior third orbit, greater than 

 length of foot without tarsus. Canthus rostralis not marked ; end of muzzle oblique. 

 Skin generally smooth, verrucose on top head, especially eye-brows. Two large 

 tubercles on palm ; large ones at digital joints, which are, with the tips of all the 

 toes, defended by a corneous cap. A narrow cuneiform tubercle, and small external 

 one. Toes rather short, with dermal margins, outer metatarsi bound ; web well de- 

 veloped, three phalanges of fourth digit free. A weak tarsal fold. 



General color brown, very dark on head, where there are a lighter cross-band be- 

 tween eyes, a light band from back part of orbit to lip, one from the front, and one 

 from below nostril. The deep color of the head is prolonged on scapular region, also 

 as a band on dorsal, which forks, and sends oblique band to side; dark cross-band on 

 coccygeal region, two across tibia, and one across fore-arm. Below, and hind and 

 front face of femur dark brown, with yellow punctse. 



Length head and body 1 in. 10-5 lines; width cranium 10 1., of interorbital region 

 2-75 lines ; length fore-limb 11-25 1., of hind-limb 2 in. 4 1. ; of foot 13-5 1., of which 

 the tarsus forms 5 1. 



A female specimen of this species was brought among the rich collections of the 

 Thayer Expedition to Brazil, and is preserved in the Museum Compar. Zoology, i 

 Cambridge (No. 408). Rio de Janeiro. 



