of its fellow of the opposite side. Tongue short, broad, and subovate, its
hinder extremity slightly bifid. Anterior extremities short and slender; toes
short, the point of each rounded, the outermost, the third, and the fourth of
equal length, the second about one and a half lines longer ; under each joint
a small tubercle. Hinder extremities rather long, the thighs anteriorly
rounded, posteriorly depressed, legs depressed, tarsi semicylindrical, flat
behind, toes united by a web, which extends to the first or proximal
joint, they are rather long, slender, and pointed, the outermost and third
are of equal length, the second is about three lines longer, the fourth is about
three lines shorter than the third, and the fifth about a line and a half shorter
than the fourth ; under each joint there is a small round tubercle, and at the
base of the innermost toe a slender conical one, about half a line in length.
Skin of head, body, and extremities, smooth. Length from the nose to the
anus, 1 inch 9 lines ; length of the thigh, 9 lines ; of the longest toe, 1 inch. leg, 1 inch; of the
This species is found in the western districts of the Cape Colony, and even close to Cape
Town. It generally resorts to marshy grounds, hut is also frequently observed on the
banks of lakes or stagnant pools. It has, I believe, been considered by Dumeril and Bibron
as a variety of Ranafasciata, but I cannot regard it as such. The shape of the tongue, the
position of the palatal teeth, the form of the head and body, the character of the toes of the
fore feet, and the shortness, comparatively, of the different parts of the hinder extremities
are, in my opinion, sufficient to justify it being regarded as a different species.