_Suprà pallidè rufo-cinereum, fasciis transversis viridescentibus;
subtus castaneonigrum, maculis albis._
_Rhinoderma Darwinii._ Bibr. Hist. Nat. Rept. VIII. p. 659. _Var._ Dorso
fuscescenti-nigro.
DESCRIPTION.—The head and body are flattened, the head triangular,
slightly truncated in front, but appearing angular from the skin
being produced into a small filiform appendage, standing forwards
from the extremity of the snout. The eyes are lateral, slightly
prominent. Body very slender. Skin perfectly smooth, and without
apparent glands, excepting on the thighs. Fore legs rather short,
reaching quite to the thighs when placed by the side; the toes
almost wholly separate, there being but the rudiment of a
connecting membrane at their base. Hinder legs long, extending
forwards beyond the head by the whole length of the foot; the
hinder toes are connected nearly half their length, and the
connecting membrane is thick and coloured like the rest of the
skin.
COLOUR.—The colour varies greatly in different individuals. The
following are the principal variations in the specimens collected
by Mr. Darwin. Above pale iron rust-colour, with a transverse
fascia across the head, a triangular one over the shoulders, a
large broad mark on the loins, and the upper part of the thighs
all of a bright beautiful green. The under side anteriorly rich
chestnut-brown, passing into black posteriorly, with several
irregular snow-white spots, particularly a broad one across the
belly, and white bands across the legs. Another specimen was cream
colour above, the markings darker, and with small spots of green.
In one the chestnut colour beneath was replaced by bright yellow.
There is one, constituting a very distinct variety, in which the
upper part is wholly and almost uniformly dark brown. The female
is greenish grey above, without conspicuous markings.
This is the only known species of the genus, which was founded by Mons.
Bibron upon the specimens collected by Mr. Darwin. The general
slightness and elegance of its form, and its slender proportions, would
lead us to consider it at first sight as rather belonging to the
_Ranidæ_ than the _Bufonidæ_; but the total absence of teeth in the
upper maxillary arch, shews that its proper place is in the latter
group. Its form and the length of the posterior extremities would also
prepare us to expect that it can leap freely, which Mr. Darwin states to
be the fact. It inhabits thick and gloomy forests, and is excessively
common in the forest of Valdivia.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 0
of the anterior extremities 0 5
of the posterior extremities 1 4
_Reptiles. Plate 20._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_1. 2._ _Rhinoderma Darwinii._ _Nat. Size._
_3. 4. 5._ _Phryniscus nigricans._ „
_6._ _Uperodon. ornatum._ „