BRACHYMERUS BIFASCIATUS.
the hinder legs, projects considerably above the base of the thighs, and is of
a triangular form, the apex backward. Toes perfectly free to the base,
and each slightly dilated at the point. On the fore feet th i toes
are four in number, the outermost and the third toe, measuring from their
base, are nearly of equal length, the second is considerably longer, and the
innermost much shorter, and extends but little beyond the base of the third.
On the hinder feet they are five, the outermost and third toes nearly of equal
length, the second much the longest, the fourth rather shorter than the third,
and the fifth much shorter than the fourth. All the toes have a small
cartilaginous tubercle under each of their joints. The skin of the head is
quite smooth, and finely porous; that of the back and sides slightly sub-
granular, fissured and porous ; on the sides of the neck those two kinds
of skin are separated from each other by an elevated cuticular fold or ridge,
which extends obliquely downwards and backwards, from the eye to the base
of the fore leg. Length of specimen described—from the point of the nose to
the apex of coccyx, 1 inch 11 lines ; length of the fore legs from the base to
the point of the second or longest toe l l j lines ; length of the hinder legs,
from the base to the apex of the longest toe 1 inch 5 lines.
Inhabits the country to the east and north-east of the Cape'Colony, and specimens are
usually found in or about cavities which exist in the trunks of trees. On the banks of the
Limpopo River, close to the tropic of Capricorn, a massive tree was, cut down, to obtain wood
to repair a waggon. The workman, while sawing the trunk longitudinally, nearly along its
centre, remarked on reaching a certain part,—it is hollow, and will not answer the purpose
for which it is wanted. H e persevered, however, and when a division into equal halves was
effected, it was discovered that the saw in its course had crossed a large hole, in which were
five specimens of the species just described, each about an inch in length. Every exertion
was made to discover a means of communication between the external air and the cavity, but
without success. Every: point of the latter was probed with the utmost, care, and water was
kept in each half for a considerable time, without any passing into the wood. The inner
surface of the cavity was black, as if charred, and .so was likewise, the adjoining wood for
half an inch from the cavity. The tree, at the part wh<^e the latter existed, was
nineteen inches in diameter, the length of the trunk was eighteen feet: the age, which
was observed at the time, I regret to say, does not appear to have been noted. When
the Batrachia above mentioned were discovered, they appeared inanimate, hut the influence
of a warm sun, to which they were subjected, soon imparted to them a moderate
degree of vigour. In a few hours from the time they were liberated, they were tolerably
active, and able to move from place to place, apparently with great ease.