nearly of equal length, the second a little longer than the first. The
hinder extremities when directed along the body, have the second toe projecting
beyond the nose. On the under surface of each of the fore-feet,
there are two large subovate tubercles and a number of smaller ones
between them and the origin of the toes. The under surface of each of
the hinder feet has two large oblong tubercles parallel to each other,—one
behind the outer, the other behind the inner toe ; also, before and behind these,
many smaller warts of a roundish form ; under each joint of the toes there is
also a rounded tubercle. The toes are slightly depressed, rather narrow at
the point, and at the base connected by a rudimentary web : the first or
outermost, and the third nearly of equal length, the second more than double
the length of the first, the fourth considerably shorter than the third, and the
fifth, or innermost, much shorter than the fourth, (vide fig. 1 a). On each
side of the body, between the fore and hinder extremities, a raised fold of
skin giving cover to a series of small glands. The skin of the head is smooth
and closely adherent to the parts underneath, that of the back and fore-legs
slightly granular; the sides above the cuticular fold, and the outer and hinder
surfaces of the posterior extremities studded with large rough depressed
warts, the surface of each finely granular ; the sides below the fold, and all the
under parts rugose from the existence of numerous, small, closely set granulations
and irregular wrinkles. The parotid glands are long, rather narrow, and
rounded at each extremity, the hinder one rather the broadest. The internal
openings of nostrils subovate, one close to each side of the upper jaw. The
openings of the Eustachian tubes triangular, and immediately inside of the
angles of the mouth. Gape moderately large ; upper jaw with a slight notch
at its apex for the lodgment of a small protuberance which exists at the
point of the lower one. Length of specimen described, from nose to anus
3 inches 3 lines, length of anterior extremities, to point of longest toe,
1 inch 9 lines ; length of hinder extremities, to point of longest toe, 3 inches
6 lines.
Inhabits the interior of Southern Africa. For the opportunity of describing and figuring this
species, I am indebted to the kindness of Professor Sunderwall of Stockholm. It was obtained
through the zealous exertions of Mr. Wahlberg, a Swedish naturalist, who visited the districts
where it occurs at a more favourable season of the year than I did, and, in consequence,
obtained several very interesting reptiles, which_were not to be seen as I passed over the
country. It differs from the true toads only in not possessing parotid glands, and if this
deficiency be found to exist, when the opportunity occurs of examining more individuals of
the species, it may be necessary to regard it as the type of a new group. It does not appear
to me it could be classed with propriety in any of the groups yet constituted which have as
characters, a visible tympanum, and no parotids.
BUFO VERTEBRALIS.—S m it h .
R e p t il ia .— P la te LXVIII.—F ig . II. and II a.
B. supeme fiavo-griseus fasciis maculisve griseo-brunneo variegatis, illis labeculis griseis ornatis; infra
’ ,. ochreus maculis parvis nigris notatis; souta palpebrali postice, dorso, extremitatibusque externe
tuberculatis ; partibus inferioribus granulosis. Macula interscapulari magna griseo-albd.
Longitudo e nasi apice ad anum 1 unc. 4 liu.
C o lo u r .—The upper surface of the head, the back, and the sides intermediate
between ash grey and yellowish grey, the two last named parts
variegated with waved longitudinal streaks or irregular blotches of a colour
intermediate between broccoli-brown and brownish red. The dark blotches
are thinly sprinkled with small circular ash-grey spots, some of which, in
every specimen, are surrounded with a narrow liver-brown ring. The outer
surface of the fore-legs are pale yellowish grey, faintly barred with livid
green ; the outer and posterior surfaces of the hinder legs the same colour as
the back, and distinctly banded transversely with broccoli-brown. From the
nose, a narrow blackish green line extends on each side of the head to the
anterior extremity of the ocular shield, where it divides into two branches,
one extends downward in front of the eye, the other inwards and backward
along the inner edge of the shield ^;; the latter is also crossed
by a narrow bar of the same colour. Spot between the fore-legs in the
course of the vertebral column bluish white. Eyes deep blackish green, the
pupil surrounded by a narrow ring of brassy green. The under surface of
the head and body ochrey yellow; the inner surface of the extremities pale
greenish yellow; the breast and belly anteriorly speckled with small liver-
brown spots.
F orm, &c.—Head small, subconieal and rather narrow; sides of body
protuberant; extremities short and slender. The first or outer, the third
and the inner toes of the fore feet, nearly of equal length, the second considerably
longer ; the outer and third toes of the hinder feet of equal length,