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Show REPTILES. 31 CLASSis-AMPHIBIA. Onno-ANOURA. FAMILIA-RANID~. GENUS RANA. RANA DELALANDII. Bibr. PLATE XYI.-FIG. 1. Dentibus palatinis in serie transversa, medio interrupta, dispositis; memhris posteriorihus corpore cum capite duplo longioribus; pedibus posticis gracillimis, semipalmatis. Rana Delalandii, Bibr. Ilist. Rept. YIII. p. 388. DESCRIPTION.-Head elongate, depressed. Eyes large, not prominent. Tympanum nearly round. Palatine teeth in two simple series, commencing at the inner side of the anterior margin of the posterior nares, and extending towards each other in a transverse direction, leaving between them a space of about half the length of each. Tongue not quite as long as it is broad. Body somewhat depressed, and with the head forming an almost uninterrupted ellipse. Skin of tlie back, with several small longitudinal folds. Anterior legs, when placed against the sides, reaching to the thigh. Fingers very slender, and of nearly equal length. Posterior limbs fully twice as long as the head and body. Toes extremely long and slender, and connected by a membrane by about httlf their length. CoLOUR.-The general colour of the upper parts is a rich brown, with darker brown and white markings. A white median fascia extends the whole length of the head and body; another fascia of the same colour and of very irregular figure on each side, passes backwards and downwards from above the shoulders, and loses itself in the pale colour of the abdomen. There are several smaller white lines and spots, and others of a dark rich brown, particularly a large mark of the latter colour behind the eye, including the tympanum. The thighs and legs are elegantly banded with similar colours. The under side is whitish. DIMENSIONS. In . J.ioes. Length of the head and body .. ... .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. . . .. ... 1 8 of anterior extremities . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 1 1 of posterior ditto .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 3 7 This species was first discovered at the Cape of Good Hope by M. Delalande, and named after him by Mons. Bibron. Mr. Darwin found it in the same locality. It is now figured for the first time. |