ALYTES OBSTETRICANS. 245 



breast, under the fore-legs, and on the first and second toes 

 of the fore-feet. 



Length of the body, about 1£ inch. 



The ground colour of the iipper parts is tawny mixed 

 with ash, agreeably spotted with light green ; below, white 

 or flesh-colour, often with orange specks on the sides. The 

 rough places described above in the males are during life 

 of a bright violet tint, but become almost black when the 

 animal is dead, the green of the upper parts also turning 

 in like manner. 



Frequents pools and other pieces of water in the spring 

 and summer ; in the autumn is found in shrubby places. 



Hitherto this species has not been met with out of 

 France, in which country it has been observed by M. 

 Baillon in Picardy ; by M. Dumeril at Sceaux-Penthievre, 

 near Paris ; in the Department du Gard, not uncommonly, 

 by M. Crespon, in vineyards ; and is a native of the neigh- 

 bourhood of Montpellier and other parts of the South. 

 Prince Buonaparte thinks that it is to be found on the 

 Italian side of the Var. 



Genus ALYTES. 



Tongue round, thick, entire, adhering on all sides, fur- 

 rowed lengthwise ; palatine teeth in a long transverse row 

 behind the nostrils, interrupted in the middle ; tympanum 

 distinct ; eustachian tubes very small ; fore-toes free ; hind- 

 toes webbed by a thick membrane ; no vocal bladder. Only 

 one species. 



Alytes obstetricans. 



Alytes obstetricans, Dum. etBiB. vol. viii. p. 467 ; Schinz, Europ. Faun, 

 vol. ii. p. 76 ; Buon. Faun. Ital. (figured). 



Description. — The head is depressed, with its sides nearly 

 vertical, flat behind and between the eyes, which are pro- 



