50 
ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF TFIE BEAGLE. 
This curious little species has been described by Weignian under the 
present name, — by Tschudi under the generic name of Chaunus, and fully by 
Bibron, who retained the name originally given to it by Weigman. It now 
remains only to correct, from Mr. Darwin’s notes, some points respecting the 
colours, ndiich had been mis-stated in consequence of the action of the spirit in 
which the specimen had been preserved. The colour of this curious miniature 
representation of a Toad, is “ink black,” excepting the palms and soles of the 
feet, a large transverse spot across the posterior part of the abdomen, two smaller 
ones near the middle, and in some specimens a few scattered little spots, all of 
the most intense vermilion red. There is one specimen from Bahia Blanca which 
has also some small “ buff-orange” spots on the upper part.* Mr. Darwin ob- 
serves that “ the appearance of the vermilion colour is as if the animal had 
crawled over a newly painted board ;” and he adds — “ This Toad inhabits the 
most dry and sandy plains of Bahia Blanca, where there is no appearance of 
water ever lodging.” The other specimens were taken at Maldonado, where 
it inhabits the sand-dunes near the coast. Mr. Darwin threw one into a pool of 
fresh-water, but he found it could hardly swim, and he thinks, if unassisted, it 
would have been soon drowned. 
This species is diurnal in its habits, and may be daily seen under a scorching 
sun, crawling over the parched and loose sand. M. D’Orbigny brought specimens 
from Monte Video. 
DIMENSIONS. 
In. Lin. 
Length of the head and body 1 0 
of the anterior extremities 0 5 
of the posterior extremities 0 8 
Genus — UPERODON. Bihr. 
Uperodon ornatum. Mihi. 
Plate XX. — Fig. 6. 
Capite multd latiore quam longiore. Dorso olivaceo, maculis fuscis, albo marginatis. 
Habitat Buenos Ayres. 
Description. — Head more than half as hroad again as it is long, and equal in breadth to half the 
entire length of the head and body. Muzzle rounded. Nostrils oval, opening upwards and a 
This specimen from Bahia Blanca has a much smoother skin than the others ; but from its similarity in all 
other characters there can be no doubt of its specific identity with them. 
