OCR Text |
Show 1871.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 203 white tubercles on the throat, chin, and breast, with a prominent one on either side of the latter. Length 1" 9'", hind limb 1" 11'". *' Colour, a golden clay-brown above, with median blackish vertical streak, diverging into two at the nape, which are continued to the base of each hind leg ; and when the hind leg is closed it appears to be continued on to the limb. Anteriorly to the eyes, a narrower branch passes over the orbit, and is also continued to the base of the hind limb ; and a median duller line appears on the croup, which abruptly diverges towards the vent. Narrower intermediate lines are also traceable ; and the principal streaks are set off by a pale golden edge. Limbs beautifully banded ; the tarse dark posteriorly. Throat and breast blackish ; the tuberculated belly and thighs tinged with yellow. Sides black, continued in a straight line from the nostrils and eyes, and strongly contrasting with a bright pale golden edge above." Such is Blyth's description of the coloration of his type, which I have been unable to discover in this museum. In his description of his second specimen, from which the foregoing account has been derived, he mentions that " the markings in it are much less distinct, while a great pale-edged black spot has become intensely developed, adjoining the base of each thigh above. In the former specimen three black spots may be seen in process of development, at the ends of the two streaks which diverge from between the shoulders. In a male the entire upper parts are pale, and have a rosy tinge, with the same black spot conspicuously developed, while the remains of the longitudinal striae are barely traceable. All are probably very beautifully coloured when alive." In this specimen the general colour above is a pale violet earthy grey. A narrow dark violet brown band runs from the tip of the snout to the occiput, where it divides into two branches, which run backwards and outwards, and terminate at the base of the thigh in a large rich dark brown spot or drop, with a yellow margin. A smaller similarly coloured spot, internal and posterior to it at the base of the thigh above, and continued to the back of the thigh as a narrow violet-brown band; another longish linear spot external to it on the sides ; faint indications (the specimen is much bleached) of some reticulated bands on the side of the occiput and sacral region ; a broad violet-brown band from the eye through the tympanum along the side, with a pale yellow margin above ; a few black spots on the oscilla • a narrow yellowish arched line from above the anus along the back of the thighs ; thigh with three narrow oblique violet-brown bands and the tibia barred or reticulated with the same colour; under surface dirty yellow, mottled with brownish on the tubercles of the chin, throat, and thorax. This form has the edentulous palate and non-dilated toes of Diplopelma ; in its general form, however, and in the strong fringed ridge across the palate it approaches Callula. Hab. Pegu. ' BUFO PANTHERINUS, Boie. Crown of the head concave, without bony enlargement; no gland |