BATRACHIA. 



317 



as to oveiToof entkely the temporal fossa above. It includes but one small species, 

 the elegant S. perspicillata of the mountainous regions of Italy and Dalmatia. Gloss- 

 olega has the unique character, accoi'ding to Gevais, of a complete quadrato-jugal arch 

 of the skull. The type, <?. poireti, which is a rather large species, with a second one, 

 Occur in Algiers. Tylototriton verrucosus represents the family in the eastern Him- 

 alayas. 



Order VIII. — GYMNOPHIONA. 



The Batraohians of this order are peculiar in various respects. The general char- 

 acters of the skull do not differ essentially from those of the TJrodela, but the skeleton 

 is without scapular and pelvic arches, and limbs, and the caudal vertebrae are few or 

 wanting. They are covered with a flexible skin, which is folded at regular intervals 

 into rings which surround the body, and is frequently furnished with minute concealed 



Fig. 185. — Saiamandra maculosa, spotted salamander of Europe. 



scales. The species have rudimentary eyes, and some of them are quite blind. Below 

 or in front of their position, the tentacle, which is the persistent balancer, already re- 

 ferred to, issues from a canal which is excavated in the skull from the orbit. There is 

 but one family of the Gymnophiona, the Cceciliidje. The number of species is not 

 large, and they are confined to tropical countries. America possesses more species 

 than any other region. 



In their early stages, the Cceciliidis, like other batrachians, are not air-breathers. 

 Branchial fissures connect the pharyngeal cavity with the external medium, and from 

 their sides originate respiratory organs. These are bladder-like membranes, in which 

 the blood vessels ramify, thus differing entirely from the gills of other Batrachia. 

 These structures are shed, and the fissures are closed, early in life. 



Order IX. — ANURA. 



The order of the frogs, toads, etc., includes eight hundred species, which are re- 

 ferred to one hundred and thirteen genera. The entire order is divisible into four series, 



