DISCOGLOSSIDJ!. 123 



Order ECAUDATA. 



Four linabs and no tail. Radius and ulna, and tibia 

 and fibula confluent; tarsus (astragalus and calcaneum) 

 elongate, forming an additional segment in the hind 

 limb. Frontal bones confluent with parietals. 



Siib-ordcr PHANBROGLOSSA. 

 Eustachian tubes separated ; tongue present. 



Series ^.— ARCIFERA. 



Pectoral arch with the opposite halves moveable, the 

 coracoids and pra3Coracoids connected by an arched 

 cartilage (the epicoracoid), that of the one side over- 

 lapping that of the other. 



Family 1.— DISOOGLOSSIDJE. 



Vertebrge opisthocoelous ; short ribs articulated to 

 the anterior diapophyses ; diapophyses of sacral 

 vertebra dilated. Upper jaw toothed. 



The genera combined under this family constitute 

 a most interesting and perfectly natural group, as is 

 abundantly evidenced by the bony structure, the larval 

 characters, &c. 



That they occupy the most lowly position among the 

 Ecaudata, and show the nearest approximation to the 

 Gaudata, is another point on which there can be no 

 question. The opisthocoelous vertebrai with distinct 

 ribs, the increased number of carpal and tarsal ele- 

 ments, the non-extrusible tongue, the presence of the 

 azygos (posterior cardinal) vein discovered by Hoch- 

 stetter in Bombinator, and since shown by Howes to be 



