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Show 208 DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. [Feb. 21, speckled with brown. The vomerine teeth are in convergent series. The surface of the head between the orbits concave ; roughish surface above each canthus rostralis and between the orbits, and extending along the occiput, enclosing a smooth triangular space ; no transverse ridges. Length 2" 9'"; thigh 1" 5'"; calf 1" 5'"; heel 9'", to fourth toe 1" 1'". This specimen appears to be intermediate between true P. quadri-lineatus and P. maculatus ; but the black lines on its back and other characters affine it to the former. Gowhatty, Assam, considerably below 2000 feet. POLYPEDATES SMARAGDINUS, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xxi. p. 355; Jerdon, Proc. As. Soc. 1870, p. 83. Blyth merely says, " A Tree-frog from the Naga hills, Assam (P. smaragdinus, nobis). Length of the body 3 5 inches, hind limb 51 inches. Wholly green above, changing in spirit to livid blue ; underparts white." Dr. Jerdon is not more explicit about the form which he supposes to be Blyth's P. smaragdinus; for he merely says that it is " A very large green-backed Frog." Dr. Jerdon has presented his specimens to this museum ; and I take this opportunity to describe them. Body moderately long and slender ; legs very long and slender. Head rather broad, upper surface slightly concave on the mesial line ; distinct canthus rostralis ; loreal region concave ; snout of moderate length, rounded in front; tympanum distinct, a little more than half the diameter of the eye. Vomerine prominences placed nearly transversely across the palate, from the inner angle of the choanae, from which they are separated by a short interval, convergent behind, but not in contact. A single line of from nine to twelve short nodular teeth. Skin quite smooth throughout; skin adherent to the surface of the head ; indications of a curved osseous crest. No enlarged tubercles below the anus ; no appendage to the heel. The body is one-seventh the distance between the arms and the heel, shorter than the length betweeu the two points. Fingers with a very rudimentary web; disks large, considerably larger than those of the toes, which are broadly webbed, the membrane reaching to the disk. The upper surface is pale livid blue (spirit specimen) ; under surface of chin, throat, and chest brownish, the rest yellowish. A dark brown band through the loreal region and along the sides of the groin. Upper jaw with a white line from the snout, below the eye and tympanum, passing behind the axilla to the ventral surface. Sides marbled brown and yellow ; legs with broad brown bars ; back of thigh marbled with yellow aud brown ; arms slightly marked with brown bars and spots. Two youngish specimens have a single longitudinal series of black spots over the vertebral line, with faint indications of others. Length of body 3" 2'" ; hind limb to heel 3" 8'" ; heel to extremity of largest toe 2" 6'". I am not at all satisfied that this is more than a variety of P. maculatus. |