BATRACHIAANOURA. 47* 



Fam. HYLIDAE. 



Teeth in the upper jaw, and generally on the vomer also. Tongue 

 oftentimes bifurcated posteriorly. No parotid glands. Extremities 

 of fingers and toes dilated into a disk-like expansion. Abdomen 

 generally glandulous. 



SYN.—m/Iae, TsCH. Mem. Soc. Sci. nat. Neuch. II, 1838, 70. 

 Bi/J,aeformes, DuM. & Bibr. Erp. g6a. VIII, 1841, 491. 



Obsery. — Time may come when herpetologists will no longer admit 

 of any primary distinction between the frogs {Ranidae) and the tree 

 frogs {Hylidae). The dilatation of the extremities of the fingers in 

 tree frogs seems to loose some of its value in Ecmoidea and Halopldla, 

 and accordingly bears somewhat upon their habits. 



Genus RANOIDEA, Tsch. 



Gen". Char. — Vomerine teeth disposed upon two groups, situated 

 between the inner nostrils. Tongue large, subcircular or elliptical, 

 slightly notched posteriorly, and free about one-third or less of its 

 length. Tympanum distinct. Eustachian tubes large. Fingers 

 and toes depressed, terminated by small subelliptical disks ; former, 

 perfectly free ; latter, webbed. A vocal, subgular, bladder in the 

 male. Abdomen glandulous. 



Syn. — Ranoidea, TscH. Mem. Soc. Sci. nat. Neuch. II, 1838, 76.— Grd. in Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. VI, 1853, 422. 



Observ. — The aspect of the genus Ecmoidea is ranine, owing to the 

 elongation of the head and body. The structure of the feet and the 

 disposition of the vomerine teeth remind us of the genus Rana, 

 whilst the tongue and the dilatation of the digits give to it a certain 

 affinity with Hyla. The dilatations of the fingers and toes, however, 

 are much less developed than in ffi/Ia ; and the fingers are never pal- 

 mated. If habits go for anything in the distinction of genera, the 

 fact that Ranoidians are more frequently seen about waters than on 

 trees, would certainly have a weight in the question. 



The United States Exploring Expedition has brought home two 



