5, DERMOPHIS.—6, GYMNOPIS. 99 Dermophis brevirostris, Peters, eod. loc. 1879, p. 937. thomensis, Peters, 1. v. p. 988, & 1880, p. 223. Snout subacuminate, moderately prominent; eyes distinct; tentacle in front of and below the eye, Body moderately elongate ; 125 to 145 circular folds, those on the anterior two thirds and on the hindermost part of the body complete, the others alternately coinplete or incomplete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Yellowish, brownish, or greyish. Total length 320 millim.; greatest diameter of body 15 millim.
West Africa.
4. Dermophis ? brasiliensis.
Siphonops brasiliensis, Reinh. & Initk. Vidensk. Meddel. 1861, p. 202. Dermophis? brasiliensis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 938. Tentacle near the eye, in front and below. Head narrow, elongate. 133 annuli, the 20 anterior and the 13 posterior complete, the others incomplete. Total length forty-six times the greatest diameter. Dark grey.
Brazil.
5. Dermophis ? proximus.
Biphoneps preninus, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. xvii. 1877, p. 90. Dermophis ? proximus, Peters, J, ¢.
Much resembling D. mexicanus, but the general form more elongate and slender, and the tentacle close to the eye, 129 annuli. Total length 425 millim.; diameter 17 millim.
Coast of Eastern Costa Rica.
‘ 6. Dermophis ? simus.
Siphonops simus, Cope, l. ¢. p. 91.
Dermophis ? simus, Peters, 1. c.
Snout wide, truncate; tentacle close to theeye. Annuli complete, 228. Dark brown, below a little paler. Total length 308 millim. ; diameter at middle 11 millim.
Costa Rica.
6. GYMNOPIS.
Rhinatrema, sp., 4. Dum. Mém. Soc. Cherb. ix. p. 320. Gymunopis, Peters, Mon. Berl, Ac, 1874, p. 216, & 1879, p. 938. Squamosals in contact with parietals. Eyes overroofed by bone. Two series of teeth in the lower jaw. - Tentacle globular, surrounded by a circular groove, situated considerably behind the nostril. Cycloid scales imbedded in the skin.
Tropical America.
106 CC@ECILIIDE.
Synopsis of the Species.
250 circular folds, complete or alternately complete and incomplete ............ 1. multiplicata, p. 100. 180 to 190 circular folds, complete ...... 2. wnicolor, p. 100. 166 circular folds, mostly incomplete .... 3. oligozona, p. 100. 1. Gymnopis multiplicata.
Gymnopis multiplicata, eine Mon. Berl, Ac, 1874, p. 616, pl. 1.f. 1, & 1879, p. 939, pl. —. f. 7 Teeth small, numerous, sahil Snout rounded, prominent. Body moderately elongate; 250 circular folds, the anterior 20 and the posterior 31 complete, the others alternately complete and incomplete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Bluish grey ; belly dark grey, passing into yellowish on the posterior part. Total length 500 millim.; diameter of body 19 millim.
Veragua and Antioquia.
2. Gymnopis unicolor.
eo unicolor, A. Dum. Mém. Soc. Cherb. ix. p. 321, pl. 1. f. 6- Gymnopis unicolor, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 939. Snout rounded, prominent. Body moderately elongate; 180 to 190 circular folds, complete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Olive ; head and tail light greenish yellow. Total length 225 millim. ; ; diameter of body 6 millim.
Cayenne.
3. Gymnopis ? oligozona.
oreo pligaconis, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos, Soc, xvii. 1877, p.91.
Granopia? oligozona, Peters, Mon. Berl, Ac. 1879, p. 939. Snout narrow, projecting. Body elongate ; 166 annuli, anterior 14 and posterior 25 complete, 15th to 73rd incomplete, the others alternately complete and incomplete. Plumbeous brown; head yellowish. Total length 263. millim.; diameter 5 millim. Hab. ?
7. HERPELE.
Coecilia, sp., Gray, Cat. p. 59; A. Dum., Mém, Soc. Cherb. ix. p. 811. Herpele, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ae. 1879, p. ” 939. Squamosals in contact with parietals ; eyes overroofed by bone. Two series of teeth in the lower jaw. Tentacle globular, surrounded by a ring-like groove, situated below and posteriorly to the nostril. Cycloid scales imbedded in the skin.
West Africa.
7. HERPELE.—9. sIPHONOPS, 101 1. Herpele squalostoma. (Prats IX. fig. 1.) Ceecilia squalostoma, Gray, Cat. p. 59. Ceecilia squalostoma, Stutchbury, Trans. Linn. Soc. xvii. p. 362 A, Dum. Arch. Mus. x. p. 222, and Mém. Soc. Cherb, ix, p. 314. Herpele squalostoma, Peters, Mon. Berl, Ac. 1879, p. 939, pl.—. f.8.
?
Teeth small, numerous, subequal; inner mandibulary teeth few. Snout rounded, very prominent. Body elongate, cylindrical; 130 or 135 (140 to 150 according to Stutchbury and Duméril) annuli, all complete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Olive-brown, sometimes with yellow spots. Total length 450 millim.; greatest diameter of body 11 millim.
W. Africa.
a, Adult. Gaboon.
b. Adult. —? Dr. Wright [P.].
8. GEGENOPHIS.
Gegenes (non Hiibner), Giinth. Proc. Zool, Soc. 1875, p. 577. Gegeneophis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 982. Squamosals in contact with parietals. Two series of teeth in the lower jaw. Eyes overroofed by bone. ‘Tentacle globular, surrounded by a circular groove, situated behind and below the nostril. No scales.
India. ‘ 1. Gegenophis carnosus. (Pxate VIII. fig. 3.) peas carnosum, Beddome, Madras Month, Journ. Med. Se. 1870, p.
Gegenes carnosus, Giinth. 1. ¢.
Teeth small, subequal. Snout narrowed, projecting; tentacle near the lip. Body elongate; 115 to 120 circular folds, all rather indistinct, interrupted on the back, the hindermost complete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Light brown; head yellowish. Total length 177 millim. ; greatest diameter of. body 34 millim, Wynaad. :
a-b. Her. ? Periah Peak. Col. Beddome [C.]. (Types.) 9. SIPHONOPS.
Siphonops, Wagler, Isis, 1828, p. 740, and Syst. Amph. p. 198; Tschudi, Batr. p. 90; Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 940. Siphonops, sp., Dum. § Bibr. viii. p. 282; Gray, Cat. p.59; A, Dum. Mém. Soc. Cherb. ix. p. 817.
Squamosals in contact with parietals, A single series of teeth in the lower jaw. Tentacle flap-shaped, tentacular groove horseshoeshaped, situated in front of the eye. No scales. Tropical America.
102 CQ@CILIIDE.
1. Siphonops annulatus. (Prave VIII. fig. 4.) Siphonops interrupta (Cuv.), Gray, Cat, p. 59. Coecilia annulata, Mikan, Delect. Flor. Faun. Bras. ; Spix, Serp. Bras. p. 74, pl. 26. f. 1.
Siphonops annulatus, Wagl. 1. c. pl. x. £.1-2; Dum. & Bibr. p. 282, pl. 85. f.1; A. Dum. 1. e. pl. 1. £.2; Peters, i. ¢. Teeth small, numerous, subequal. Snout broad, rounded, moderately prominent, shorter than the distance between the eyes ; latter distinct ; tentacle in front of and below the eye. Body stout, cylindrical, moderately elongate; 85 to 95 circular folds, all complete, ceasing before the vent. Tail indistinct, rounded. Blackish or olive; annuli and borders of the vent whitish. Total length 390 millim.; greatest diameter of body 16 millim. Guianas; Brazil; Ecuador; Peru.
a,b. Ad. & yg. Bahia. Dr. Wucherer [C.]. e. Hgr. Bahia.
d,e. Adult. Rio Janeiro. A. Fry, Esq. [P.]. J. Adult. Brazil. Lord Stuart [P.]. g. Her. Brazil.
A. Her. Sarayacu, Ecuador. Mr. Buckley [C.}. -k. Adult. Mpyobamba. Mr. A. H. Roff (C.]. i,m. Ad. & yg. —-? Derby Museum [P.]. n, Adult. —-?P 10. TYPHLONECTES.
Cecilia, sp., Dum. & Bibr. viii. p. 274; Gray, Cat. p. 57; A. Dum. Mém. Soc. Cherb. ix. p.311.
Typhlonectes, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 940. Squamosals in contact with parietals. Two series of teeth in the lower jaw. Tentacle flap-shaped; tentacular groove horseshoeshaped, situated behind the nostril. No scales. Body more or less compressed towards the end. Vent surrounded by a sort of adhesive disk.
South America. :
Synopsis of the Species.
135 to 167 circular folds, interrupted on the back...............00005 1. compressicauda, p. 102. 99 circular folds, all complete; snout very prominent ................ 2. dorsalis, p. 103. Circular folds indistinct ; suout very Prominent: .. 6 wis: se weesesew ee 3. natans, p. 103. 1. Typhlonectes compressicauda.
Ceecilia compressicauda, Gray, Cat. p. 58. Ceecilia compressicauda, Dum. & Bibr. p. 278; Peters, Mon, Berl. Ac. 1874, p. 45, & 1875, p. 483, pl. —. Typ hloniaciee compressicaudus, Peters, eod. loc. 1879, p. 941, pl. —.
10. TYPHLONECTES. 1038 Snout broad, rounded ; eyes distinct ; tentacle close to the nostril. Body stout, moderately elongate, becoming gradually compressed and keeled above towards the end; 135 to 167 circular folds, interrupted on the back. Tail indistinct. Olive-brown. Total length 470 millim.; diameter of body 20 millim.
Guianas; Venezuela.
2. Typhlonectes dorsalis.
Coecilia dorsalis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1877, p. 459, pl. —. Typhlonectes dorsalis, Peters, cod. loc. 1879, p. 941. Snout rounded, very prominent; eyes distinct; tentacle behind and below the nostril, twice as far from the eye as from the latter. Body rather slender, elongate; a raised line on the hinder part of the back, continued on the distinct, compressed, rudiment of tail ; circular folds 99, all complete ; anal disk very distinct. Yellowish brownish olive, theannuli black. Total length 265 millim. ; diameter of body 7 millim.
Angostura, Venezuela.
3. Typhlonectes natans. (Pxuate IX. fig. 3.)
Ceecilia natans, Fischer, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 941, and Arch. f. Nat. 1880, p. 217, pl. viii. f. 5-7.
Typhlonectes natans, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 941. Inner row of mandibular teeth composed of 12 to 14 teeth. Snout very prominent ; eyes distinct; tentacle behind and slightly below the nostril, three times nearer the latter than the eye. Body moderately elongate, strongly compressed posteriorly, with a more or less distinct prominent ridge on the posterior part of the back; skin granulate; circular folds very indistinct. Tail distinct. Brownish grey, a little lighter beneath; anal disk white. Total length 360 millim.; greatest diameter of body about 10 millim. Cacera, Colombia.
a, Adult. Berlin Museum [E.].
The following species is referred, with doubt, by Prof. Peters to this genus; but nothing in Mr. Cope’s description would seem to indicate the correctness of that view :— SrpHonops syntreMus, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad, 1866, p. 129. “This species differs from the four hitherto known (S. indistinctus, R. & L., annulatus, Mik., brasiliensis, Liitk., mewicanus, D. & B.) in the close approximation of the narial and tentacular openings; the latter lie behind the former, and are slightly larger. The minute eyes are just visible; the internal nares are some distance behind the palatine arch. Muzzle projecting, obtuse in profile; from above narrowed, rounded. Teeth large, five on each ramus mandibuli. A gular and strong postgular fold; 130 annular plice, which are complete, except slight ventral interruption ante-
104 CHCILMDZ.
riorly ; the posterior third of the length with intermediate annuli, which are first lateral only, then complete above, entirely complete on the terminal inch: the whole number will then be about 170 annuli. Form of body rather slender; tail depressed at end, short, acuminate. Colour dark plumbeous, annuli yellow-lined; head yellowish brown.”
Belize.
11. CHTHONERPETON.
Chthonerpeton, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 940. Squamosals separated from parietals. Two series of teeth in the lower jaw. Tentacle flap-shaped, the tentacular groove crescentshaped, situated between the nostril and the eye. No scales. South America.
1, Chthonerpeton indistinctum.
Siphonops indistinctus, Reinh. § Lith. Vidensk, Meddel, 1861, p. 203; A, Dum. Mém. Soc. Cherb. ix. p. 318.
Chthonerpeton indistinctum, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1879, p. 940. Teeth small, numerous, subequal. Snout rounded, prominent ; eyes distinct ; tentacle between the nostril and the eye, below the line which would unite them. Body moderately elongate; circular folds 78 to 100, rather indistinct, incomplete. Tail indistinct, rounded. Blackish grey, with or without irregular lighter spots. Total length 320 millim.; greatest diameter of body 12 millim. Porto Alegre; Buenos Ayres.
2. Chthonerpeton petersii. (Pxrare IX. fig. 2.) Teeth small, numerous, subequal. Snout rounded, moderately prominent; eyes not distinct through the skin; tentacle close to and behind the nostril. Body elongate; 145 circular folds, complete except the anterior 28, which are interrupted on the dorsal and ventral line. Tail indistinct, rounded. Uniform dark olivegrey, the eyes indicated by a whitish spot. Total length 620 millim. ; greatest diameter of body 16 millim.
Upper Amazon.
a, Adult. Upper Amazon.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OFTHE BATRACHIA.
Or the various primary Geographical Divisions which have been proposed, that recognized by Giinther for Freshwater Fishes, into. Northern, Equatorial, and Southern zones, agrees best with the facts deducible from a study of Batrachians. We have, however, to make one modification, as for Batrachians a separate Southern zone does not exist. Tasmania and Patagonia do not differ in any point regarding their Frog-fauna from Australia and South America respectively. In other words, the geographical distribution of the Batrachia agrees in general with that of Freshwater Fishes; whilst other groups of cold-blooded Vertebrata, the Lacertilia for instance, were subject to a totally different plan of dispersion, which is better expressed by the divisions proposed by Sclater. In spite of the objections that have been made to the practice of specialists to define geographical regions from considerations derived from their own particular study, I still believe,this to be the only successful way of dealing with the subject; and I consider that fallacious conclusions would be arrived at if a division of the Globe’s surface made for Reptilia were applied, without modification, to Bactrachians, or even to the several orders of the former Class. The following are the principal divisions adopted :— I. Tau Norruzry Zonz.—Characterized by abundance of Caudata and absence of Apoda.
1. Huropo-Asiatic or Palearctic Region.—Numerous Salamandrine. Absence of Hylide with a single exception. Discoglossidee. ; 2. North-American Region.—Sirenide ; few Salamandrine ; Plethodontine, Amblystomatine, and Hylide numerous; Desmognathine.
II. Tue Eevarortan Sournzrn Zonz.—Characterized by Apoda or absence of Caudata.
A. Firmisternia Division (=Cyprinoid Division of Giinther).— Firmisternia greatly predominate (260 species out of 300). Absence of Hylide and Cystignathide.
1. Indian Region —No Aglossa or Dendrobatide. 2. African’ Region. —Dactylethride or Dendrobatide. B. Arcifera Division (=Acyprincid Division of Giinther).— Arcifera greatly predominate (3870 out of 420). Hylidae, Cystignathide, 1. Tropical American Region. A poda, Pipide, Hemiphractide, Amphignathodontide, Dendrophryniscide, Dendrobatida. Bufo numerous.
2. Australian Region —Absence of Apoda and Bufo. I
106 GROGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. Tue Evroro-Asraric ok Patmarcric REaion.
This region is limited in the south-west by the Sahara, all the species hitherto recorded from Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis being truly Palearctic, and not less than four species of the order Caudata (which is altogether absent in the African Region) occurring in this part of North Africa. Northern Egypt presents an interesting mixture of Palearctic and African forms; of the four Ecaudata known from that country, two (Bufo viridis and Hyla arborea) are widely distributed in the Kuropo-Asiatic, the two others (Rana mascareniensis and Bufo regularis) in the African Region; a species of Tailed Batrachian also occurs, but is known from the larva only*. Little is known of Arabia, but the northern parts appear to agree with Northern Egypt. Syria is decidedly Palearctic, as is also North-eastern Persia, where the widely distributed Rana esculenta, Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, and Molge cristata occur without the addition of any African or Indian form. Afghanistan appears to he Indian. In Southern China we meet with a gradual predominance of Indian types. Roughly speaking, the 30° lat. N. may be considered the line separating the Europo- Asiatic Region from the African and Indian.
The Europo-Asiatic Region is poorer than any other in the number of species; as regards genera it equals the North-American and Australian Regions.
The Discoglosside only, the least specialized of all the families of Ecaudata, can be regarded as peculiar to this region, although one representative occurs outside its boundaries, viz. the genus Liopelma of New Zealand, which thus affords a remarkable and perfectly analogous instance of the distribution of the Salmonoid genera Osmerus and Retropinna. The other families of Ecaudata are :—the Ranide, occurring in every other part of the World but Australia ; the Bufonide, which are cosmopolitan ; the Hylida, a widely distributed group, rich in species, represented in this Region by a single species ; and the Pelobatida, a small group represented, besides, in the North- American and Indian Regions and in New Guinea. The Caudata are chiefly Salamandride, which family occurs wherever the Order is represented; one genus of the small families Amphiumide and Proteide are also represented by single species, the former reaching its greatest development in the North-American Region. Two Subregions may be distinguished—the European and the Asiatic, the Oural and the Aralo-Caspian steppes forming the line of separation, Japan does not differ in any important character from Eastern Asia, and about half of its species (6 out of 13) occur also in China.
The European Subregion is characterized by Pelobatide and Discoglosside, and by the numerous Salamandrine and the genus Proteus ; very curiously, a species of the otherwise entirely American genus * M. F. Lataste has received several larve of a Salamandroid collected near Alexandria by M. Letourneux. It will probably turn out to be Salam. maculosa, which has recently been discovered in Syria, and which will accordingly be Circummediterranean.