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Title: The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, [vol. 5 of 5]
Reptiles
Author: Thomas Bell
Editor: Charles Darwin
Release date: July 6, 2026 [eBook #79041]
Language: English
Original publication: London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1839
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79041
Credits: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by Biodiversity Heritage Library.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE, [VOL. 5 OF 5] ***
THE
ZOOLOGY
OF
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE,
UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN FITZROY, R.N.,
DURING THE YEARS
1832 TO 1836.
_PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROVAL OF
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY’S TREASURY._
=Edited and Superintended by=
CHARLES DARWIN, ESQ., M.A., F.R.S., V.P.G.S.,
NATURALIST TO THE EXPEDITION.
PART V.
REPTILES,
BY
THOMAS BELL, ESQ., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c.
PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY IN KING’S COLLEGE.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL.
MDCCCXLIII.
London:
Printed by STEWART and MURRAY,
Old Bailey.
REPTILIA.
=Described by=
THOMAS BELL, ESQ., F.R.S., F.L.S., ETC.
ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.
PREFACE.
Amongst the Reptiles and Amphibians obtained by Mr. Darwin, in the
Voyage of the Beagle, there are several of great interest, not merely on
account of their novelty as newly discovered species, of which there are
nearly thirty, or as forming the types of genera not previously known,
or of any remarkable peculiarity of form, structure, or habit, although
in all these respects many of them are highly interesting; but more
particularly as serving to establish or confirm several points connected
with their geographical distribution.
From the structure of most of these animals and their consequent habits
of life, circumscribed as they are for the most part in their locomotive
powers, it might reasonably be predicated that they would, upon the
whole, exhibit as distinct examples of restriction, with regard to their
geographical boundaries, as any class of vertebrated animals; and that
the intervention of seas and of mountains would be sufficient to limit
the range of a species. Such is in fact usually the case; and not only
is the same species not found in the Old and New Continents, but, with
very few exceptions, not even on the opposite sides of the South
American Continent, in which range Mr. Darwin’s discoveries have
principally been made. The occurrence, however, of _Bufo Chilensis_ at
Rio Janeiro and at Buenos Ayres on the eastern, and at Valparaiso and
the Archipelago of Chonos on the western side of the continent, shows an
extent of distribution exceedingly unusual if not absolutely
unparalleled in this family. It is, however, still possible that further
and more extended researches into the characters of the animals in
question, and an examination of individuals from each locality at
various ages, may prove that there are two species, which have been
confounded with each other, and the anomaly may thus be removed.
But although the circumscribed range of a species may be accounted for
by the reasons above mentioned, and others of a restrictive nature, it
is not so easy to refer to any known or obvious cause the remarkable
fact of a whole genus, consisting of numerous species, being thus
geographically limited. Yet this is a well-known and very common
circumstance with regard to several groups of animals. In our present
researches there exists a remarkable example of this fact in the genus
_Proctotretus_, consisting, as is now known, of at least fourteen
species, all inhabiting the western coast of South America. These facts,
interesting as they are, have never been sufficiently investigated,
although, it must be confessed, there are so many anomalies in relation
to this subject, that we must despair of ever reducing the facts in
question to any thing like fixed laws.
The close approximation of the Raniform and Hyliform groups of the
Anourous Amphibia is strikingly illustrated by several new forms
obtained by Mr. Darwin, which are so perfectly osculant between the two
families, that it is difficult to assign them a decided location. And
the addition of some bufonine forms in the family _Ranidæ_, as at
present constituted, and on the other hand of some amongst the
_Bufonidæ_, which are no less raniform in their general structure and
habits, render it increasingly probable that the single character of the
presence or absence of superior maxillary teeth, must be considered as
insufficient to constitute alone a natural distinctive family character.
There are several minor points bearing upon the natural arrangement of
the Anourous Amphibians, which are illustrated by the characters of some
of the species now first described, which will doubtless at some future
time assist in the construction of a classification of these animals,
bearing at least a nearer approximation to their natural arrangement
than any that has hitherto been promulgated.
The Ophidians have been placed in the hands of Mons. Bibron, who is at
the present time engaged in completing his admirable history of
Reptiles, by the publication of those volumes which are devoted to this
order; and it must be considered a fortunate circumstance that the delay
which has taken place in the appearance of that portion of his labours,
has thus afforded the opportunity of embodying in so perfect a work, the
numerous discoveries of Mr. Darwin in this particular department of
Erpetology.
T. B.
_Hornsey, Sept. 2, 1843._
LIST OF SPECIES.
PAGE
Alsodes monticola 41
Amblyrynchus cristatus 23
—— Demarlii 22
Ameiva longicauda 28
Batrachyla leptopus 43
Borborocætes Bibronii 35
—— Grayii 36
Bufo Chilensis 49
Centrura flagellifer 25
Cyclodus Casuarinæ 30
Cystignathus Georgianus 33
Diplolæmus Bibronii 21
—— Darwinii 20
Gerrhosaurus sepiformis 29
Gymnodactylus Gaudichaudii 26
Hyla agrestis 46
—— Vauterii 45
Hylorina sylvatica 44
Leiocephalus Grayii 24
Leiuperus salarius 39
Limnocharis fuscus 33
Litoria glandulosa 42
Naultinus Grayii 27
Phryniscus nigricans 49
Pleurodema bufoninum 39
—— Darwinii 36
—— elegans 37
Proctotretus Bibronii 6
—— Chilensis 2
—— cyanogaster 12
—— Darwinii 14
—— Fitzingerii 11
—— gracilis 4
—— Kingii 13
—— multimaculatus 17
—— nigromaculatus 10
—— pectinatus 18
—— pictus 5
—— signifer 8
—— tenuis 7
—— Weigmannii 15
Pyxicephalus Americanus 40
Rana Delalandii 31
—— Mascariensis 32
Rhinoderma Darwinii 48
Uperodon ornatum 50
LIST OF PLATES.
Plate I.│Proctotretus Chilensis.
„ │—— gracilis.
────────┼───────────────────────────
II.│—— pictus.
────────┼───────────────────────────
III.│—— Bibronii.
„ │—— tenuis.
────────┼───────────────────────────
IV.│—— signifer.
„ │—— nigromaculatus.
────────┼───────────────────────────
V.│—— Fitzingerii.
„ │—— cyanogaster.
────────┼───────────────────────────
VI.│—— Kingii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
VII.│—— Darwinii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
VIII.│—— Weigmannii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
IX.│—— multimaculatus.
„ │—— pectinatus.
────────┼───────────────────────────
X.│Diplolæmus Darwinii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XI.│—— Bibronii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XII.│Amblyrynchus Demarlii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XIII.│Gymnodactylus Gaudichaudii.
„ │Naultinus Grayii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XIV.│Leiocephalus Grayii.
„ │Centrura flagellifer.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XV.│Ameiva longicauda.
„ │Gerrhosaurus sepiformis.
„ │Cyclodus Casuarinæ.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XVI.│Rana Delalandii.
„ │—— Mascariensis.
„ │Limnochans fuscus.
„ │Cystignathus Georgianus.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XVII.│Borborocœtes Bibronii.
„ │—— Grayii.
„ │Pleurodema Darwinii.
„ │—— elegans.
„ │—— bufoninum.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XVIII.│Leiuperus salarius.
„ │Pyxicephalus Americanus.
„ │Alsodes monticola.
„ │Litoria glandulosa.
„ │Batrachyla leptopus.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XIX.│Hylorina sylvatica.
„ │Hyla agrestis.
„ │—— Vauterii.
────────┼───────────────────────────
XX.│Rhinoderma Darwinii.
„ │Phryniscus nigricans,
„ │Uperodon ornatum.
ERRATA.—In Plate XIX. for “Hylonia” read “Hylorina.”
_for_ “vanterii” _read_ “Vauterii.”
REPTILES.
TRIBUS—EUNOTES. _Bibron._
FAMILIA—TROPIDURIDÆ. _Mihi._
TROPIDOLEPIDIENS. _Bibr._
GENUS—Tropidurus. (In part.) _Weigmann._
PROCTOTRETUS. _Bibr._
CHARACTER GENERICUS.—_Pori femorales_ nulli. _Pori præ-anales_ in
maribus tantùm. _Cristâ dorsalis_ nulla. _Dentes palatini._ _Squamæ_
imbricatæ; _dorsales_ carinatæ.
The genus which I take the present favourable opportunity to illustrate,
formed a section or sub-genus of the genus _Tropidurus_, according to
Weigmann, who, however, was acquainted with two species only; _Pr.
Chilensis_ and _Pr. nigromaculatus_. Of the varieties of the former of
these, that author has made no less than three species ; but these have
been very properly reduced by M. Bibron to one only. The last-named
excellent erpetologist described several additional species, which had
been brought from Chile, by M. D’Orbigny, and others ; and I received,
some years since, from Capt. King, three or four species which were
found by him in the same locality, in the course of his well-known
survey. The number of species altogether, hitherto known, amounts to
ten; to which I have now the opportunity of adding four entirely new,
forming part of the interesting collection of Reptilia made by Mr.
Darwin. One of them, _Pr. Kingii_, was already in my collection, amongst
those which were given me by Capt. King. The genus, therefore, of which,
but lately, two species only were known, now consists of fourteen ; and
it is highly probable that more may yet be obtained by more prolonged
and extensive investigation in the same districts.
Thus of the species now described two were known to Weigmann, and
described by him, namely, _Chilensis_, and _nigromaculatus_. I received
from Capt. King, _Chilensis_, _pictus_, _cyanogaster_, _Kingii_,
_Fitzingerii_, and, from other sources, _Chilensis_, _pictus_,
_Weigmannii_. Bibron describes the whole of these, excepting _Kingii_,
and in addition to them _tenuis_, _pectinatus_, _signifer_. In Mr.
Darwin’s collection are found all those described by Bibron, excepting
_signifer_; and in addition _Kingii_ now first described, and the
following species never before observed, namely, _Darwinii_, _gracilis_,
_Bibronii_.
Although the form of the whole of the species much more nearly
approximates that of the Agamidæ than most others, they are far removed
from that family by several important characters, which it is
unnecessary here to detail.
PROCTOTRETUS CHILENSIS.
PLATE I.—FIG. 1.
_Auribus margine anteriore dentato; collo non plicato; squamis dorsi
magnis, rhombeis; acutè carinatis; serie unicâ squamarum
supralabialium._
_Calotes Chilensis_, Less, et Garn. Voy. de la Coquille, Zool. Rep. t.
i. f. 2.
_Tropidurus Chilensis_, Weigm. Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Carol. Nat. cur.
xvii. pp. 233. 268.
_Proctotretus Chilensis_, Bibr. Hist. Nat. des Rep. IV. p. 269.
Sun. _Tropidurus nitidus_, Weigm. l. c. p. 234, t. xvii. f. 2.
Var. _Tr. olivaceus_, Ib. l. c. p. 268.
Habitat, Guasco in Northern Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short and broad, rostrum rounded, obtuse. Scales of
the head large, and slightly raised, separated by distinct
grooves. Superciliary ridge strongly marked, forming a distinct
carina, composed of five or six narrow, elongated, obliquely
imbricated scales. Nostrils large, nearly round. A single series
of narrow scales between those of the upper lip and the orbit.
Scales of the temples imbricated, rhomboidal and carinated. The
opening of the ear oval, rather large, furnished anteriorly with
three or four projecting scales, of which the upper one is the
largest. The neck is short, robust and round, and without any
lateral fold; in which it differs from every other species of the
genus. The trunk is thick, rounded on the back and sides,
flattened beneath, diminishing toward either extremity. The tail
is ordinarily almost twice as long as the body, thick at its
origin, and tapering regularly to the extremity, nearly round,
excepting near the base, where it is slightly quadrilateral. The
anterior feet when placed against the sides, extend backwards
little more than mid-way between the shoulder and the groin; the
posterior ones, stretched forward, reach the arm-pit.
The scales of the whole upper and lateral parts of the body, tail,
and limbs, are loosely imbricated, large, rhomboidal, and
furnished with an elevated carina, terminating in an acute point:
those of the under parts are large, smooth, and obtuse.
This is one of the most beautiful species of the genus. The
general form is robust and solid, forming a remarkable contrast
with most other species of the genus. The surface is beautifully
relieved by the fine, large and prominent scales, which are ranged
in rows of perfect regularity, of which there are about eighteen
on the back and side.
In colour and markings the individuals differ considerably; so as
to have given rise to the opinion that they form three distinct
species. Monsieur Bibron mentions two principal varieties,
constituting the _Tropidurus olivaceus_ and _Tr. Chilensis_ of
Weigmann. In the former, the colour is of a more or less bronzed
bright green, or yellowish, according as the green or yellow
colour prevails on the scales, each of which is green, with a
border of yellow on each side: this border, according to M.
Bibron, in some individuals of a blood-red colour. In some,
especially in young individuals, there are several waved bands
running transversely across the back.
In the second variety, says M. Bibron, the upper parts are either
of an olive colour, with a golden glance in certain lights, or
fulvous, with more or less of a yellow tint; and these have always
four brown bands running the length of the body, appearing as if
formed of a series of large spots united together. “The temples
are marked with a black line, which extends from the posterior
angle of the eye to the ear; another divides behind the occiput
into two branches, which pass to the neck there to join the dorsal
bands.” There are other variations of colour, but scarcely
deserving to be considered as constituting permanent or fixed
varieties; the largest and finest specimen I have seen, which I
received from Chile, is almost uniformly of a fine metallic green,
without any markings.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 9
of the body 3 5
of the tail 6 0
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 10 4
Length of anterior extremity 2 0
of posterior extremity 1 2
This species would appear to be very common in Chile, from the numerous
specimens from that country in the museum in Paris, which were brought
by M. Gay, and by M. D’Orbigny. I have also received specimens from
Capt. King. I find only one or two specimens in Mr. Darwin’s collection,
which he found at Guasco in Chile.
PROCTOTRETUS GRACILIS. N.S.
PLATE I.—FIG. 2.
_Corpore gracili: capitis squamis lævibus, non imbricatis: aurium
margine anteriore minutè bi-tridentato: collo vix plicato, squamis
imbricatis: serie unicâ squamarun supralabialium: femorum facie
posteriore omninò granulosâ._
Habitat, Port Desire, Patagonia. Mr. Darwin, MS.
DESCRIPTION.—This new species is more slender and graceful in its
general form than any other of the genus, not excepting _Pr.
tenuis_, which in its general proportions it considerably
resembles. The head is rather short, the anterior portion
including the eyes being nearly an equilateral triangle. The
muzzle is rounded. The scales of the head flat, rather large,
consisting behind the nose of three series of 2, 3, 3, and 2,
mostly hexagons. The nostrils are small and perfectly round, the
superciliary ridge is very slightly marked; there is but a single
row of small linear scales between the labial and suborbitar. The
ear is of moderate size, the anterior margin having two or three
small projecting scales. The scales on the temples are imbricated
and smooth; those of the sides of the neck also imbricated but
very small. The neck is almost wholly without a fold, having
merely a slight loose elevation of the skin. The scales of the
back are small, rhomboidal, flat, the carina low, and not pointed
at the extremity. They consist of about ten rows on each side of
the median line. Those of the sides and belly are wholly without
any notch on the free margin. The scales around the axillæ, and
those of the posterior face of the thighs are granular. The tail
is of considerable length, being more than twice the length of the
head and body. The limbs are remarkably long; the anterior, when
pressed against the side, reaching to the setting on of the thigh,
and the posterior reaching forwards nearly to the ear. The general
colour of the upper parts is greyish brown, with a yellow
longitudinal fascia extending on each side from the upper edge of
the orbit to some distance along the tail—and another from beneath
the eye to the thigh. The middle of the back is lighter than the
sides—beneath the second lateral line the colour fades, and on the
belly it is pale buff or light yellow. The sides are dotted with
black; and there are some dark waved lines and dots beneath the
lower jaw.
This species is at once distinguished from every other by the fold
of the neck being scarcely cognizable. It is however not so
absolutely wanting as in _Pr. Chilensis_.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 4
of the tail 3 8
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 7
Length of anterior extremity 0 7
of posterior extremity 1 1
A single individual of this species was taken by Mr. Darwin at Port
Desire.
_Plate 1._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins, on stone in Lithotint C.
Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1. Proctotretus Chilensis_ _Nat. Size._
_2. ____ gracilis_ „
────────────────────────────────────────
_1a._ _1b._ _Magnified
views._
_2a._ „
_Plate 2._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
on stone in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1. 2. Proctotretus pictus._ _Nat. Size._
PROCTOTRETUS PICTUS.
PLATE II.—FIG. 1, 2.
_Capite squamis parvis, lævibus, non imbricatis; aurium margine
anteriore granuloso; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium; squamis
temporum subcarinatis, imbricatis; collo ad latera granuloso;
squamis dorsalibus parvis, rhombeis, carinâ humili, posticè obtusâ;
facie posteriore femorum omninò granulosâ._
_Proctotretus pictus_, Bibr. l. c. p. 276.
Habitat, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—This species is moderately slender in its general form,
but more fusiform than _Pr. tenuis_, which it much resembles in
many of its characters. The head, which is rather short, and with
the snout rounded, is covered with numerous small flat plates
which vary exceedingly in their form and arrangement. The upper
surface of the head is flattened, and the superciliary ridges
distinctly marked. The temples are covered with small flat scales,
which are slightly imbricated and carinated. The sides of the neck
are granulated; and the anterior margin of the auditory cavity has
small simple granulations. The scales of the back are
distinguished from those of many other species by the flatness of
the carina which is also obtuse posteriorly; they are small and
closely imbricated. Those of the sides are almost without any
carina, and those of the belly and throat small and very smooth,
and the whole of them entire. The upper parts of the limbs are
covered with scales similar to those of the back, but smaller.
Those of the under part of the fore arm are similar, but beneath
the thighs they are smooth and on the posterior part of the thighs
they are wholly granular. The tail is furnished with quadrilateral
carinated scales disposed in whorls. The margin of the cloaca has
from two to four pores.
The colour of this species varies greatly. Bibron has enumerated
three principal varieties, of which I have several specimens,
which were brought home and presented to me by Capt. King, who
obtained them during his survey of the coast of South America.
These varieties, however, occasionally run into each other.
Var. A. General colour of the upper part bronzed or coppery,
having a green longitudinal line on each side of the back, at the
inner margin of which is a series of very distinct black dots. The
sides of the neck and body are of a similar colour to the back,
with indistinct black spots; beneath this part the ground colour
becomes blue with black dots. The throat is blackish, and the
inferior surface generally is very pale bluish green.
Var. B. This variety is described by M. Bibron as of a brown
colour more or less dotted with yellow, and having a line of that
colour along each side of the back, extending from the posterior
angle of the eye to the base of the tail, and having on each side
a series of angular black spots. Some of these spots on the upper
part of the flanks, become dilated, so as to form a sort of
vertical or transverse waved bands, with yellowish margins. On the
neck there are small black lines, and the upper part of the head
is brown with blackish spots. The upper surface of the legs and of
the tail is brown with transverse bands composed of black dots.
The whole under surface is of a whitish colour, sometimes having a
slight tint of orange towards the posterior parts, marbled with
black.
Var. C. In this variety the general colour is dark brown, and the
yellow or green longitudinal lines which characterize the former
varieties are but slightly marked; but the black spots unite and
form irregular transverse bands.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the body 1 8
of the tail 4 6
─────────────────────────────────
7 0
This specimen very much resembles in its more tangible characters, the
_Pr. tenuis_; from which, however, it differs totally in the colouring,
and in some measure also in the general form, which is more thick and
robust.
Found in Chile by M. Gay, from whence I also received specimens from
Capt. King, and other sources.—“Valparaiso.” Mr. Darwin.
PROCTOTRETUS BIBRONII. N.S.
PLATE III.—FIG. I.
_Capite squamis lævibus, subconvexis; auribus ovalibus, margine
anteriore unidentato; squamis temporum collique rotundatis lævibus
imbricatis; colli minimis; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium;
squamis dorsi rhomboideis, carinatis, posticè acuminatis; abdominis
squamis omnibus integris; femorum facie posteriori omninò
granulosâ._
Habitat, Port Desire. Mr. Darwin.
DESCRIPTION.—General form resembling that of _Pr. pictus_ and
_cyanogaster_. Head moderately short, obtuse, covered with rather
large slightly convex scales; a single row of scales between the
labial and the orbitar. The anterior margin of the ear has a
single tooth. The temples and the sides of the neck are covered
with imbricated scales, which have no carina—those of the neck,
especially those on the fold of the skin are smaller and more
raised than the others. The scales of the back are rather large,
rhomboidal, with a distinct carina, terminating in a point. Those
of the abdomen and sides are all of them entire at the margin. The
posterior surface of the thighs is wholly granular.
The only specimen obtained being a female, the number of pre-anal
pores is not known.
The general colour of this species is brownish grey; a black
longitudinal line runs down the middle of the back and tail. There
are two series of black spots on each side, and a small
interrupted fascia of the same colour extends from the shoulder to
the thigh. The belly is of an uniform dirty white.
_Plate 3._
[Illustration:
_From Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins
in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1. Proctotretus_ _Bibronii_ │_Nat. Size._
_2._ _tenuis_ │ „
_a & b._ _1 & 2._ _Magnified Views of Heads._
This species approaches considerably to _Pr. cyanogaster_ in general
form and habit, and in many of its characters; but it may be at once
distinguished from it not only by its colouring, but by the absence of
even the slightest appearance of a carina on any of the scales of the
temples or of the sides of the neck.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the body 1 6
of the tail 3 4
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 6
Length of anterior extremity 0 7
of posterior extremity 1 1
Found by Mr. Darwin at Port Desire, in Patagonia.
PROCTOTRETUS TENUIS.
PLATE III.—FIG. 2.
_Capite squamis lævibus, non imbricatis; auribus magnis, margine
anteriore subtuberculato; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium;
temporibus squamis rotundatis, imbricatis; collo granuloso; squamis
dorsi parvis, obtusis, carinis minimis; squamis lateralibus exiguis,
non imbricatis; facie posteriore femorum omninò granulosâ._
_Proctotretus tenuis_, Bibr. l. c. p. 279.
DESCRIPTION.—General form slender: head rather short and obtuse,
covered with flattened smooth scales; anterior margin of the ears
with one or more slight tubercles; temples covered with rounded
imbricated scales, some of which are slightly carinated; sides of
the neck, and above the shoulders granular; scales of the back
small, slightly carinated, obtuse; those of the sides very small,
very little imbricated; those of the belly small and smooth. The
posterior surface of the thighs has no patch of imbricated scales,
but is wholly granular.
The colour of the two specimens brought home by Mr. Darwin is so
much obliterated, that I am obliged to have recourse to the
account given by Bibron of the colour and markings of this
species:— “Les deux sexes du _Proctotréte svelte_ n’ont pas le
même mode de coloration. Ni l’un ni l’autre ne portent, de chaque
côté du dos, une bande longitudinale verte ou jaunâtre comme cela
s’observe dans l’espèce précédente, (_Pr. pictus_.)
“Le mâle a le dessus de la tête nuancé de brun et de fauve, ou
bien ponctué de jaune et de noirâtre. La région cervicale est,
ainsi que le dos, vermiculée de noir sur un fond brun, qui est
lui-même semé de taches, soit bleuâtres, soit verdâtres, on
ardoisées; quelquefois même on en remarque de jaunâtres. Presque
tous les individus ont les côtés du cou marqués chaqun d’une raie
noire qui s’étend depuis le haut de l’oreille jusqu’à l’épaule.
Les membres et la queue sont coupés en travers par des bandes
onduleuses noirâtres, dont les intervalles se trouvent remplis par
de taches, les unes bleuâtres, les autres de la couleur du cuivre
rouge, la gorge tantot est jaune, tantot d’un beau vert
métallique. Souvent elle est, de même que les autres régions
inférieures de l’animal, vermiculée de gris-brun pâle sur un fond
blanchâtres, glacé de violet.
“La femelle a toutes ses parties supérieures peintes d’un
gris-brun fauve. Son cou et son dos portent deux séries parallèle
de demi-cercles noirs, ayant leur bord convexe tourné de coté de
la tête, et leur bord concave liseré de blanchâtre, ou bien d’une
teinte plus claire que celle du fond de la couleur du dos. La
région moyenne de celuici est quelquefois ponctuée de noir, ou
tachetée de blanchâtre. Des lignes noires onduleuses traversent le
dessus de la queue dont le dessous est souvent cuivreux. Les
régions inférieures sont blanchâtres ou bien colorées de la même
manière que celles des individus mâles.”
Mr. Darwin’s only observation on the colour of this species is,
that it is “brownish black with transverse black bands.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 6
of the tail 2 1
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 4 2
Length of anterior extremity 0 8
of posterior extremity 1 3
Found at Valparaiso, and at Concepcion, in Chile.
PROCTOTRETUS SIGNIFER.
PLATE IV.—FIG. 1.
_Capite brevi, obtuso, depresso, squamis lævibus planis; aurium
margine anteriore bi-tuberculato; squamis temporum imbricatis; colli
granulatis; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium; squamis dorsi
laxis imbricatis, vix carinatis; facie posteriore femorum omninò
granulosâ. Dorso flavescenti-griseo, signis nigris, in seriebus
quatuor longitudinalibus dispositis._
_Proctotretus signifer_, Bibr. l. c. p. 288.
_Plate 4._
[Illustration:
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_1._ _Proctotretus_ _signifer._
_2._ _nigromaculatus._
_2a._ _Magnified View._
Head short, depressed, somewhat abruptly deflexed from the vertex—the
scales flat, those of the suprà-orbital arch being numerous, and less
regular than in most other species. Between the labial scales, and the
long infra-orbital plate is a single series of rounded scales.[1] The
scales of the temples are rather large, somewhat rounded, slightly
imbricated, and a few of the posterior ones having the vestige of an
obtuse carina. The ear is rather small, the anterior margin having two
slightly prominent scales towards the lower part.
Footnote 1:
Mons. Bibron states that there are two series, but on examining his
specimen I find a single series only.
The body is depressed; the tail moderately long, thick and slightly
four-sided at the base, becoming much smaller and round towards the
middle. The scales of the sides of the neck are small and granular;
those of the upper parts of the body small, rhomboidal, rounded
posteriorly, loose, much imbricated, and with an extremely low and
inconspicuous carina. They are arranged in about twenty-two
longitudinal series. Those of the sides are larger and quite smooth.
The scales of the whole under part of the throat and belly are
rhomboidal, smooth and much imbricated; a very few towards the sides
of the abdomen are slightly notched at the apex. The under surface of
the anterior and the hinder surface of the posterior extremities are
covered with very fine granular scales; those of the upper surface of
the members being rhomboidal, smooth, but slightly carinated and
obtuse. The tail is covered with small rhomboidal scales which are
considerably imbricated and distinctly carinated. The scales of the
upper surface of the toes are smooth; those on their sides
uni-carinated, and those beneath tri-carinated and broad.
The general colour of the upper parts is a yellowish grey, with black
markings, which have somewhat the character, as Mons. Bibron observes,
of Arabic letters. On the neck and back these markings are disposed in
four longitudinal series; and there are small linear markings on the
upper part of the shoulders and thighs. The tail is similarly marked,
the under parts are whitish, with brown lines and spots.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the body 1 5
of the tail 3 0
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 1
Length of anterior extremity 0 8
of posterior extremity 1 2
This species is not found amongst the reptiles obtained by Mr. Darwin,
but as it has never been figured, it appeared very desirable that this
opportunity should not be lost. I am indebted to the great kindness of
my friend M. Bibron for the loan of the only specimen which I have seen,
and from which the accompanying figure is taken. It formed part of the
zoological collections obtained by Mons. D’Orbigny for the French
Museum.
PROCTOTRETUS NIGROMACULATUS.
PLATE IV.—FIG. 2.
_Capite brevi, squamis neque imbricatis nec carinatis, tecto; auribus
margine anteriore tridentato; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium;
squamis temporum magnis, rotundatis, imbricatis; colli (et præcipuè
plicæ) crassis, elevatis; facie posteriore femorum omninò granulosâ;
squamis nonnullis ad latera abdominis gulæque emarginatis; maculâ
transversè; oblongâ, nigrâ, suprà regionem scapularem._
_Tropidurus (Leiolæmus) nigromaculatus_, Weigm. Act. Acad. Cæs. Nat.
cur. xvii. p. 229.
_Proctotretus nigromaculatus_, Bibr. l. c. p. 281.
Habitat, Coquimbo, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short, the muzzle rounded, rather obtuse; scales of
the upper part of the head somewhat convex, smooth; a single line
of scales between the labial and orbitar; ears rather large, the
anterior margin having three rather prominent scales, the middle
one being the largest. Temporal scales somewhat large, smooth,
rounded, and imbricated, those towards the upper part slightly
carinated; those of the sides of the neck thick and elevated,
those on the fold being rather acutely prominent; scales of the
back carinated, the carina terminating in an acute point; a few of
the scales at the sides of the abdomen and throat notched; the
remainder of the scales of the under parts rhomboidal. The scales
about the axilla and around the base of the shoulder are granular
and very small, as are those of the posterior surface of the
thighs, on which part there are no imbricated scales as in _Tr.
Fitzingerii_. The tail is round, excepting at the base where it is
slightly flattened; it is moderately long and slender. The
anterior extremity placed against the side does not reach to the
thigh; the posterior similarly placed reaches to the shoulder. The
colour of this species is yellowish grey above, with a yellowish
longitudinal line on each side the back, and two rows of black
spots each margined with yellow behind. There is a large and
distinct oblong black mark on the region of the scapula, from
which circumstance the species takes its name. On the posterior
surface of the thighs, towards the upper part, are three or four
black dots placed in a line. The under surface is yellowish white
with dark grey dots and lines under the chin and throat.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 5
of the tail 2 8
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 4 8
Length of anterior extremity 0 8
of posterior extremity 1 2
This species was first described by Weigmann, and subsequently by M.
Bibron, from specimens obtained by Gaudichaud from Coquimbo, at which
place the single specimen brought home by Mr. Darwin was also obtained.
_Plate 5._
[Illustration:
_From Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ _Proctotretus_ _Fitzingerii._│_Nat. Size._
_2._ _Cyanogaster_ │ „
PROCTOTRETUS FITZINGERII.
PLATE V.—FIG. 1.
_Capite squamis lævibus, non imbricatis; margine anteriore aurium
granuloso; squamis supralabialibus ovalibus, in serie unicâ
dispositis; squamis dorsalibus parum carinatis, posticè obtusis.
Facie posteriore femorum præcipuè granulosâ sed portione, caudam
versus, squamis majoribus, rhomboideis imbricatis tectâ._
_Proctotretus Fitzingerii_, Bibr. l. c. p. 286.
Habitat, Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—General form thick and robust, the head short being
nearly as broad as it is long. The muzzle slightly rounded. Scales
of the head flat, small and numerous. Two scales only behind the
rostral and between those which are pierced by the nostrils. Those
over the nose and around the occipital scales being larger and
more regularly arranged than the others. The ear is large, oval,
the anterior margin having, towards the upper part, about three
small, oval, granular, very slightly projecting scales. Temples
covered with small, rounded or slightly hexagonal scales, which
are scarcely imbricated. A single range of rather broad oval
scales between the orbit and the upper lip. Scales of the sides of
the neck, and above and behind the shoulder small, granular. The
trunk thick; scales of the back very small, imbricated, very
slightly carinated, and not pointed behind; those of the under
parts smooth and rhomboidal. The legs are short and robust. The
anterior pair, placed against the side do not extend backwards
more than halfway to the thigh. The posterior pair do not quite
reach the arms. The posterior face of the thighs is covered with
granular scales, excepting a large patch near the groin rising to
near the upper surface of the thigh, which are imbricated and
rhomboidal, similar to those of the inferior surface of the thigh.
The scales of the upper part of the toes are smooth, those beneath
have one or two slight carinæ.
This species varies very much in colour; three or four tolerably
distinct varieties may be noticed, but they often pass more or
less into each other. As I have only one of these varieties in my
possession, I quote the following description from Mons. Bibron’s
account of the specimens in the French Museum.
Var. A. Les parties supérieures sont grises, ou bien d’un brun
marron plus ou moins clair. Il règne au long du cou et du dos
quatre series de taches noires, bordées de blanc en arrière. La
queue et les membres offrent des bandes transversales anguleuse,
d’un teint marron noirâtre, alternant avec des bandes semblables
mais de couleur blanche. Les régions inférieures aussi sont
blanches, excepté la gorge, qui est parcourue par des raies
confluentes brunes. D’autres raies d’un brun marron sont imprimées
verticalement, sur les lèvres.
Var. B. Cette variété se distingue de la précédente, en ce que le
dessus de ses membres est ponctué de noirâtre, et que les quatre
séries de taches qui ornent le dos de la première variété sont
appliquées ici sur un fond fauve jaunâtre. Puis la gorge est
verdâtre et le ventre noir, marbré de blanc.
Var. C. Le dessus du corps est uniformement peint d’un vert olive. Le
dessus du cou, le milieu de la poitrine et celui du ventre sont d’un
noir profond.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 7
of the body 2 8
of the tail 4 2
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 7 7
Length of anterior extremity 1 2
of posterior extremity 2 0
This species agrees with _Pr. Darwinii_ and _Weigmannii_, and in some
degree with _Pr. Kingii_, in having a portion of the posterior face of
the thighs covered with imbricated scales. This is a character, which
although existing in all those which I have named, is found to obtain in
very different degrees; in _Tr. Weigmannii_ being very distinctly
marked, and in _Tr. Kingii_ very slightly so, and in some specimens
scarcely notable. It is probable, that var. B., and possibly A. also, of
Mons. Bibron, may be _Pr. Kingii_; but I have not had the opportunity of
ascertaining this from the actual examination of the specimens.
Found by Mr. Darwin at Port Desire, and at Santa Cruz, in Patagonia.
PROCTOTRETUS CYANOGASTER.
PLATE V.—FIG. 2.
_Squamis capitis neque imbricatis nec carinatis; temporum imbricatis,
subcarinatis, margine rotundato; aurium margine anteriore simplici;
squamis dorsalibus rhombeis, laxis, carinâ posticè acutâ; femorum
facie posteriore omninò granulosâ; corpore suprà olivaceo, fascia
utrinque longitudinali flavescenti; abdomine cœruleo._
_Proctotretus cyanogaster_, Bibr. l. c. p. 273.
Habitat, Valparaiso, and Valdivia, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—It has been well observed by M. Bibron that this species
offers at first sight somewhat the general aspect of the genus
Algira; the acute points of the dorsal and lateral scales and the
general form giving very much that appearance.
The head is of moderate size, somewhat deflexed; the scales
moderate, flat and smooth; those of the temples are slightly
carinated, imbricated and rounded: those of the sides of the neck
small, not granular, but rhomboidal and imbricated. There is but a
single series of oblong scales between the labial ones and the
orbit. The margin of the ear is entire and simple; the scales of
the back are lozenge-shaped, the carina of moderate height but
prolonged into an acute point. Amongst those of the sides of the
neck and belly are a few which are notched at the margin.[2] The
scales of the posterior surface of the thigh are wholly granular.
Footnote 2:
This is contrary to the character given by M. Bibron, who states
that the whole of these are entire.
_Plate 6._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
on stone in Lithotint. C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ │_Proctotretus Kingii_ _Nat.
│Size._
_2._ │ „
───────┼───────────────────────────────
_a. b._│_Magnified View._
The proportions of the limbs vary in the two sexes. In the male
they are considerably longer than in the female. In the latter the
posterior extremity when placed against the side extends only to
the arm, in the former it reaches to the ear. The ground colour of
the back is chesnut brown or greenish brown, with a bright
metallic green glance in certain lights; there are two light buff
longitudinal fasciæ running the whole length of the body; the
under parts are of a bright metallic blue colour. Mr. Darwin
states that in one specimen there were emerald spots on the sides,
which did not exist in another individual. This may possibly be a
sexual peculiarity.
DIMENSIONS OF A MALE SPECIMEN.
DIMENSIONS OF A MALE SPECIMEN.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the body 1 9
of the tail 3 3
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 8
Length of anterior extremity 1 0
of posterior extremity 1 5
Found by Mr. Darwin at Valparaiso, and at Valdivia; the former is a very
dry rocky country, with a scanty vegetation; whereas the latter is
nearly level, covered with the thickest forest, and the climate
exceedingly humid.
PROCTOTRETUS KINGII, N.S.
PLATE VI.—FIG. 1, 2.
_Squamis capitis neque imbricatis nec carinatis; supralabialibus in
serie unicâ; aurium margine anteriore granuloso; interdum
unidentata; squamis, dorsalibus carinatis, posticè acuminatis,
femorum facie posteriore præcipuè granulosâ, sed portione parvâ,
caudam versus, squamis parvis, rotundatis imbicratis tectâ._
Habitat, Port Desire in Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—General form robust and full; the head short, thick, and
passing into the neck without any distinct contraction; the muzzle
rounded. Scales of the head larger in proportion than in _Pr.
Fitzingerii_. Ear large, oval, with the anterior margin granular,
sometimes slightly toothed. Scales of the temples of moderate
size, imbricated, smooth, somewhat raised. A single range of oval
moderate-sized scales between the labial and the orbital scales on
the sides of the neck, above and behind the shoulder small,
granular, and some of them having a minute pore. Scales of the
back of moderate size, larger than in _Fitzingerii_, rhomboid,
having a rather prominent carina, and terminating in a distinct
point. Scales of the under parts smooth and rhomboidal. The
posterior surface of the thighs is for the most part granular, but
a small portion near the groin is covered with larger imbricated
scales; to a much smaller extent, however, than in _Fitzingerii_,
and other species which possess this character.
The general colour of the upper part of this species is a rich
dark brown, with whitish transverse bands and spots, having a
black margin. I have figured in fig. 2, of Plate VI., a remarkable
variety in which the bands are alternate black and white, and a
broader and a narrower longitudinal fascia of a yellowish-white
colour, run the whole length of the body on each side. The under
parts are yellowish-white, with dark or almost black spots; under
the throat bluish-gray with white spots.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 8
of the body 2 3
of the tail 3 4
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 6 5
Length of anterior extremity 1 1
of posterior extremity 1 4
This species much resembles _Pr. Fitzingerii_ in many of its characters,
as well as in its size. It may, however, be at once distinguished from
it by the character of the scales of the back, which in this species are
very distinctly carinated, of a rather elongated form, and pointed at
the extremity; whereas in the other they are shorter, smaller, the
carina is very slight, almost indistinct, and the posterior extremity is
obtuse.
The tail in the larger figure of our plate is deformed, having been
renewed. The specimen figured at (2,) in the same plate, is so
remarkably distinct in the colours and marking, as to lead me to suppose
that it may possibly be a different species.
PROCTOTRETUS DARWINII.
PLATE VII.—FIG. 1, 2.
_Corpore subdepresso; capite squamis numerosis, parvis, subelevatis,
lævibus non imbricatis; aurium margine anteriore integro; temporibus
colloque granulatis; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium; facie
posteriore femorun partìm granulosâ, partìm squamis imbricatis
tectâ._
Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia. Mr. Darwin.
_Plate 7._
[Illustration:
_From Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ │_Proctotretus Darwinii. Nat. Size._
_2._ │ „
──────────┼───────────────────────────────────
_1 a & b._│_Magnified Views._
_2 a._ │ „
_Plate 8._
[Illustration:
_B. Waterhouse Hawkins lithog._
]
_1._ │_Proctotretus Weigmannii._
_2._ │ „
─────┼──────────────────────────
_1a._│_Magnified Views._
_2a._│ „
DESCRIPTION.—The general form of this new species is similar to that
of _Pr. Weigmannii_, but less elongate and somewhat more
depressed, resembling in general appearance some of the forms of
the genus Sceloporus. Head covered with rather small and
consequently numerous scales, slightly elevated, and separated
from each other by distinct and deep lines. A single series of
small scales between the labial scales and the orbit. The exterior
margin of the ear is entire and even. Scales of the temple and at
the sides of the neck wholly granular, the latter very small. The
scales of the back are small, flat, with a very low carina, and
not pointed at the posterior extremity. There are about twenty
rows of dorsal scales. The posterior surface of the thighs is
granulated, excepting a small patch near the tail of imbricated
scales, similar to those of the inferior surface, as in _Pr.
Weigmannii_. The tail is of moderate length, and the scales which
cover it are short, depressed, and obtuse in comparison with those
of several other species. The pre-anal pores, which are peculiar
to the male, are about ten in number.
The general colour is gray, with two light longitudinal lines on
each side, and a row of black spots along the inner margin of the
dorsal ones. The under surface is nearly white, with black dots
under the throat.
The anterior legs, when stretched backwards against the side,
reach about two-thirds towards the thigh; and the posterior when
stretched forwards, extend to the shoulder.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 6
of the tail 3 4
──────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 5
Length of anterior extremities 0 8
of posterior extremities 1 2
It is at first sight extremely difficult to distinguish this species
from younger individuals of _Pr. Fitzingerii_, from which, however, it
differs in the more linear form of the supralabial scales, in the
absence of imbricated scales on the lateral fold of the neck, the more
entire margin of the ear. In the existence of a patch of larger
imbricated scales on the posterior surface of the thighs, it resembles
_Pr. Weigmannii_; from which, however, it may be at once distinguished
by the single row of supralabial scales, the later species having a
double row.
PROCTOTRETUS WEIGMANNII.
PLATE VIII.—FIG. 1, 2.
_Capite squamis lævibus non imbricatis tecto; auribus rotundis margine
anteriore minutè granulato. Seriebus duabus squamarum
supralabialium. Femorum facie posteriore partìm granulosâ, partìm
squamis minutis imbricatis tectâ._
_Proctotretus Weigmannnii_, Bibr. l. c. p. 284.
Habitat, Northern Patagonia and La Plata.
DESCRIPTION.—Head rather short, covered with numerous slightly raised
scales, not carinated nor imbricated; snout rather obtuse and
slightly rounded, nostrils semicircular. Two series of very small
scales between the labial scales and the orbit. Ear of moderate
size, the anterior margin furnished merely with minute granular
scales. Scales of the temples flat and smooth. Fold on the sides
of the neck distinctly marked, anteriorly bifurcated; the
remainder somewhat waved. Sides of the neck granulated scales of
the whole of the upper and back parts of the body and tail of
moderate size, the carina little elevated and the point but
slightly prominent. The scales of the inferior parts of the neck
and body are smooth, polished, and imbricated, those towards the
sides of the neck minutely emarginated. The scales of the limbs
resemble those of the body; those of the upper surface being
carinated and those beneath smooth. The posterior face of the
thighs is generally covered with granular scales, but there is on
this part near the tail, a distinct patch of imbricated scales
resembling those of the inferior surface of the thighs, a
character by which this species may at once be distinguished from
all others. The anterior extremity placed against the side reaches
about two-thirds of the distance towards the groin; the posterior
extremity reaches forward to the shoulder.
COLOUR.—The back and sides are brownish gray, with a yellow
longitudinal band on each side of the back, separating transverse
black or dark brown bands of various size and form; and there is
in most on each side a smaller interrupted yellow band. The under
parts generally of a yellowish white, in some individuals sparsely
dotted with black. Mr. Darwin says of some individuals of this
species that they have “an orange-coloured gorge, and faint
stripes of blue,” also “ash-grey with dark brown marks and specks
of orange and blue.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 5
of the tail 2 2
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 4 2
Length of anterior extremity 1 1
of posterior extremity 0 8
This species was found by Mr. Darwin at Bahia Blanca and at Rio Negro,
on the northern confines of Patagonia, and at Maldonado, near the mouth
of the Rio Plata.
_Plate 9._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
on stone in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ _Tropidurus_ _multimaculatus._ _Nat. Size._
_2._ _pectinatus_ „
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
_1a. 1b._ _Magnified Views._
_2a._ „
PROCTOTRETUS MULTIMACULATUS.
PLATE IX.—FIG. 1.
_Corpore subdepresso; capite squamis numerosis parvis tecto; auribus
parvis, margine lævi; seriebus quatuor squamarum supralabialium;
squamis temporum imbricatis; collo granuloso; femorum facie
posteriore partìm granulosâ, partìm squamis imbricatis tectâ._
_Proctotretus multimaculatus_, Bibr. l. c. p. 291.
Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—The body depressed and wide—the head triangular, the
muzzle rather acute. Nostrils prominent and nearly round. Scales
of the head very small and numerous; those of the temple
rhomboidal and imbricated. There are four series of small
irregular scales between the labial and suborbitar. The sides of
the neck are wholly granular; the scales of the body very small;
those of the upper parts rhomboidal, flat with very low carina,
and obtuse at the apex—beneath they are also small and rhomboidal;
the posterior surface of the thighs is granular, but, as in some
other species, there is, near the groin, a distinct patch of
imbricated scales like those of the inferior surface. The tail is
broad to some distance from the origin, and then tapers to the
extremity. The scales of the tail are rather small, short and
obtuse.
The anterior extremity placed against the sides reaches about
two-thirds the distance towards the posterior, and the latter
reaches forwards to the shoulder.
The ground colour of this species is gray, with numerous small
black spots, some of which are bordered with white. The under
parts are white, and in one specimen in Mr. Darwin’s collection
there are on the belly numerous distinct small black spots. His
description of the colours is as follows:—“Colours above
singularly mottled. The small scales are coloured brown, white,
yellowish red and blue, all dirty, and the brown forming
symmetrical clouds. Beneath white, with regular spots of brown on
the belly.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 8
of the body 1 8
of the tail 3 0
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 6
Length of anterior extremity 1 0
of posterior extremity 1 6
Found at Bahia Blanca, on the northern confines of Patagonia. The
following remarks of Mr. Darwin on the habits of this species are very
interesting. “In its depressed form and general appearance it partakes
of some of the characters of the Geckos. Its habits are singular. It
lives on the dry sand of the beach, at some distance from the
vegetation, and the colour of the body much resembles that of the sand.
When frightened it depresses its body, stretches out its legs, and
closing its eyes tries to escape detection. If pursued it buries itself
with great quickness in the sand; but as its legs are short, it cannot
run very swiftly.”
PROCTOTRETUS PECTINATUS.
PLATE IX.—FIG. 2.
_Capite squamis subæqualibus, rhomboideis, imbricatis, carinatis
tecto._
_Proctotretus pectinatus_, Bibr. Hist. Rept. IV. p. 292.
Habitat, Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—The scales of the head are narrow, closely imbricated,
strongly but not acutely carinated, and the anterior ones arranged
in somewhat of a radiating direction from the muzzle. There is but
a single series of scales between those of the upper lip and the
orbit, and these, together with all the scales about the head,
partake of the carinated and elongated character already
described. A single strong triangular scale and two smaller ones
are placed on the anterior margin of the ear, which is narrow,
oval and reniform. The scales of the temples and sides of the neck
are rhomboidal, acute, carinated and imbricated. There is a
longitudinal fold on each side of the neck and a transverse one
anterior to the shoulder, behind which is a deep depression. The
scales of the back and side are prominently and acutely carinated,
those of the central line being rather more prominent than the
others; and above this there is on each side a marked longitudinal
lateral crest extending from beneath the eyes to the base of the
tail. The scales constituting these crests are very prominent,
narrow and acutely carinated. The scales of the belly are also
imbricated and rhomboidal, but flat; those of the under surface of
the hands and feet are carinated; and those of the toes have three
carinæ. The body is somewhat depressed as is the tail at its
commencement, becoming more rounded and rather abruptly smaller at
some distance from its origin. The fore-foot reaches to about
two-thirds of the distance from the shoulder to the side, and the
hinder extremity thus placed extends to the shoulder.
The colours of this most elegant of all the species of the genus
are very beautiful. “This is the most beautiful lizard,” says Mr.
Darwin, “I have ever seen; the back has three rows of regular
oblong marks of a rich brown, the other scales symmetrically
coloured either ash or light brown; many of them of a bright
emerald green; beneath pearly, with semilunar spots of brilliant
orange on the throat.” I find in the specimens I have examined
that the pectinated lateral crests are white, and the brown oblong
marks of the back are bordered with a similar colour. There are
always three white transverse lines across the head.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 7
of the body 1 7
of the tail 3 1
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 5 5
Length of anterior extremity 1 0
of posterior extremity 1 5
This species, as has been observed by M. Bibron, who first described it,
may be at once distinguished from every other by the character of the
scales of the head, which, instead of lying flat, with the edges in
contact, are all of them imbricated and carinated. Another obvious
distinguishing character, is the narrow line of prominent scales running
the whole length of the body on each side, forming a sort of
_pectinated_ lateral crest, from which circumstance it has derived its
name.
Found by Mr. Darwin, at Bahia Blanca, and Port Desire in Patagonia.
GENUS—DIPLOLÆMUS. _Bell._
_Caput breve, latum, subtriangulare. Aures parvæ, ovatæ, margine lævi.
Nares magnæ, rotundæ. Collum infrà transversè, ad latera
longitudinalitèr plicatum. Corpus subdepressum, non cristatum. Cauda
teres, breviuscula, læevis. Pedes breves, robusti. Squamæ capitis
numerosæ, parvæ, rotundatæ, non imbricatæ—corporis atque caudæ suprà
minimæ, læves, convexæ, paulò imbricatæ, infrà læves, planæ. Pori
femorales et præ-anales in utroque sexu nulli. Dentes palatini
nulli._
The new genus which I have thus defined, resembles very closely, in most
of its characters, the genus _Leiosaurus_ of Bibron; from which, indeed,
it scarcely differs, excepting in the absence of palatine teeth, and in
the form of the suborbitar plates, which in _Leiosaurus_ are all
distinct, and of nearly equal size; whereas, in the present genus, three
of these are united to form one plate, resembling that in
_Proctotretus_, and some other _Agamidæ_. In other respects the genera
are very closely allied; but the existence or non-existence of palatine
teeth, is a character of so much importance, that it appeared to me,—and
in this opinion I am supported by M. Bibron, who examined the specimens
with me,—that they should be considered as distinct. Both the genera are
natives of South America. Of _Leiosaurus Bellii_ (Bibr.) the only known
specimens were presented to me by Capt. King, who obtained them during
his survey, from whom also I obtained specimens of one of the species of
the present genus, _D. Bibronii_.
DIPLOLÆMUS DARWINII. _Mihi._
PLATE X.
_Squamis capitis convexis; caudâ, corpore cum capite longiore._
Habitat, Port Desire, Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short, almost equilaterally triangular, rising
obliquely from the muzzle to the vertex, then flattened. Nostrils
large, round, each placed in front of the suprà-orbital crest, and
in a line between it and the centre of the muzzle. The ears are
small, oval, the margin simple, and the membrana tympani
superficial. The neck is considerably contracted; it has a
longitudinal fold on each side formed by the confluence of two
others, one of which arises from behind the angle of the mouth,
and the other from above the ear, which is, as it were, enclosed
between them; they coalesce a little behind the ear. There is also
a distinct transverse fold on the throat, very similar to that in
_Leiosaurus Bellii_. The body is moderately thick, somewhat
depressed, and without the slightest appearance of a longitudinal
crest, or any elevation along the median line. The tail is
somewhat longer than the head and body, nearly round and tapering
almost evenly from its origin to the apex. The fore legs are short
and moderately robust, the toes short, nearly equal; the hinder
legs moderately long. The former when placed against the sides, do
not reach the thighs by nearly a third of the distance between the
two limbs; the latter when directed forwards, just reach the
axillæ. The cloacal covering is semilunar, turgid, and the margin
quite simple.
Scales covering the upper surface of the head numerous, rounded,
and considerably elevated; those between the two suprà-orbital
semicircles are in a double series. The occipital plate is oval,
raised from the margin, hollowed immediately around the centre
which is again raised like a minute tubercle. Above the labial
scales, is a series of equal, rounded, oblong scales, and between
these and the principal suborbital is a single series of smaller
ones. Scales of the whole of the upper and lateral parts of the
neck and body extremely small, slightly elevated, passing at the
sides into a flatter and more expanded form. Those of the whole of
the under parts are quite flat and imbricated. Beneath the
anterior parts of the lower jaw, and behind the broad mental
scales, are a series of flat, hexagonal scales on each side,
passing backwards and outwards, the front pair large and oblong
and the others diminishing by degrees. The scales of the throat
are very small, those on the fold larger and acutely rhomboidal.
The scales of the anterior part of the belly are also rhomboidal
and those of the posterior portion hexagonal or nearly quadrate.
The tail is covered by scales disposed in whorls, those on the
median line beneath being larger than the others. Beneath each toe
is a series of transverse hexagonal imbricated scales.
The colours and markings of this species are very difficult to be
described, on account of the great irregularity of their
disposition. The ground colour of the head is yellow, passing into
grey on the back part. The anterior part has several small spots
of a dark brown colour, and there is a larger one on each orbit,
another between the eye and the ear, and others on the back part
of the head extending to the neck. The middle of the back is
reddish yellow, on each side bluish gray, passing beneath into
yellowish white. A series of very irregular transverse spots cross
the yellow median portion of the back, and there are others on the
sides; and these two series becoming confluent on the tail, form,
with the yellow ground, alternate half rings of the two colours.
The upper part of the legs has similar bands. The whole of the
throat, belly, and inferior surface of the limbs and tail are
yellowish white. There are numerous small blackish spots over
these parts which are more distinct and linear on the throat, and
becoming paler, smaller and round on the belly.
_Plate 10._
[Illustration:
_From Nature by B Waterhouse Hawkins:
in Lithotint, C Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_Diplolæmus Darwinii. Nat. Size._
_Plate 11._
[Illustration:
_E. Waterhouse Hawkins del;_
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_Diplolæmus Bibronii_ _Nat. Size._
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 1 0
of the body 2 2
of the tail 3 8
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 7 0
Length of anterior extremity 1 1
of posterior extremity 1 6
Taken at Port Desire, on the coast of Patagonia.
DIPLOLÆMUS BIBRONII. _Mihi._
PLATE XI.
_Squamis capitis planis; caudâ corpore cum capite breviore._
Habitat, Port Desire.
DESCRIPTION.—Head thick and clumsy, longer than it is broad, muzzle
obtuse, suprà-orbital arches slightly elevated. Nostrils as in the
former species, in size, form, and situation. Ears subtriangular,
the margin simple. Neck considerably contracted, with a
longitudinal fold on each side, and a distinct transverse fold on
the throat. Body rather broad, slightly depressed, perfectly even,
without any central crest or elevation. The tail is shorter than
the head and body, slightly triangular at its base, tapering
regularly to its extremity. Limbs of moderate length; the toes of
each foot longer than in _D. Bibronii_, and those of the fore-feet
more unequal, the third being the longest, then the fourth, the
second, the fifth, and the first. The fore-legs placed against the
side reaches to about two-thirds of the distance between the
shoulder and thigh; the hinder foot placed in the same manner
reaches to the axilla.
The scales of the head are quite flat, a character in which this
species differs remarkably from the former, although in their
number and arrangement they are very similar. The occipital scale
is flat and hexagonal. Between the labial scales and the
suborbital, there are, in addition to the regular series of larger
supralabial scales, at least three distinct series of smaller
ones; whereas in _D. Darwinii_ there is but one.
The scales of the temples, the neck, the body, the limbs and the
tail, are similar to those of the former species in general form
and arrangement, excepting that they are smaller and less
elevated. Those beneath the anterior part of the lower jaw are
much smaller; but the rest on the under parts are similar to the
former.
The head is of a dull light-brown colour, with a few obscure
darker spots. The general ground colour of the back is “bluish
gray, tinged with rust colour;” there are five transverse bands
across the back, which are composed principally of numerous,
close, small, dark-brown spots, on a bluish-gray ground, darker
than the intervals, and without any red tinge; and each band is
marked on the posterior margin with strongly defined semilunar
indentations, bordered with yellowish-white, or bright yellow.
These bands are continued on the tail, where they become
half-rings.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 1 2
of the body 2 9
of the tail 3 5
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 7 6
Length of anterior extremity 1 4
of posterior extremity 2 1
GENUS—AMBLYRYNCHUS. _Bell._
AMBLYRYNCHUS DEMARLII. _Bibr._
PLATE XII.
_Cristâ suprà cervicem elevatiore, suprà dorsum humiliore; tuberculis
verticalibus subdepressis, occipitalibus conicis; caudâ tereti._
_Amblyrynchus Demarlii._ Bibr. Hist. Rept. IV. p. 197.
This species was first described by Mons. Bibron in the “Histoire des
Reptiles,” and so fully as not to require any detailed account of its
characters here. It has not, however, hitherto been figured, and it is
thought very desirable to embrace so good an opportunity of giving a
representation of so interesting an animal. Its most important
structural peculiarities will be alluded to in the account of the next
species, which is an aquatic form, whilst the present is strictly
terrestrial. The toes are long, compared with those of the other, and so
unequal as to constitute essentially an ambulatory form.
By Mr. Darwin’s observations we are now enabled fully to confirm Mons.
Bibron’s suggestion, that this species was from the Galapagos, and to
establish the genus as strictly appertaining to that curious and
interesting locality.
_Reptiles. Plate 12._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B Waterhouse Hawkins._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_Amblyrynchus Demarlii._ _Nat. Size._
AMBLYRYNCHUS CRISTATUS. _Bell._
_Cristâ suprà humeros humiliore; digitis ferè equalibus subpalmatis;
caudâ compressâ._
_Amblyrynchus Cristatus._ Bell, Zool. Journ. 1825, p. 195. Tab. Supp.
XII. Bibr. Hist. Rept. IV. p. 204.
I established the genus _Amblyrynchus_ nearly eighteen years ago, from a
stuffed specimen of the present species, which had been obtained by Mr.
Bullock, Jun., in Mexico. I had never seen another specimen, until Mr.
Darwin brought home a young one from the Galapagos, in excellent
preservation in spirits, and thus established its true habitat, and
enabled me to correct those errors in my description which arose from
drying and bad stuffing. Mons. Bibron also took his description from my
specimen, and thus necessarily fell into the same mistakes, of which the
most important are those which relate to the form of the tail, and the
structure of the feet. Thus the tail is described as “round, excepting
towards the extremity, where it is flattened at the sides,” whereas it
is in fact much compressed throughout its whole length; and with regard
to the toes no mention is made of their being partially united by a web
or fold of skin, which is the case both on the anterior and posterior
feet. These two characters so obviously point out a power of swimming,
that the aquatic habits of the species might at once have been
predicated, and it is exceedingly interesting to find, from Mr. Darwin’s
observations, that such is really the case. We have, therefore, two
distinct forms—distinct equally in their structure and in their
habits—in the two species now described; the one, _A. Demarlii_, being
truly terrestrial, with lengthened, unequal, and distinctly separated
toes and a round tail, and the present species as truly amphibious,
having short, nearly equal and webbed toes, and a compressed tail.
A very interesting account of their habits, &c., is given by Mr. Darwin
in his delightful Journal of the Voyage of the Beagle, p. 466 to 472, to
which the reader is referred, and which exactly accords with the
peculiarities of their respective structure just alluded to.
It is remarkable also, that whereas _Amblyrynchus cristatus_ inhabits
the coasts of all the islands, the other species is found only in the
central portion of the group.
GENUS—LEIOCEPHALUS. _Gray._
LEIOCEPHALUS GRAYII.
PLATE XIII.—FIG. 1.
_Cristâ dorsali elevatâ; caudâ sub-compressâ; squamis ventralibus
rhomboideis, lævibus; margine anteriore meatus auditorii
quadridentato; squamâ occipitali magnâ._
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
DESCRIPTION.—Head, viewed from above, forming a nearly equilateral
triangle, covered with irregular slightly raised scales.
Supra-orbital ridge prominent, and covered with a series of
elongated and imbricated scales. Occipital plate large,
pentagonal, notched at its posterior margin. The anterior margin
of the auditory passage is strongly quadridentate, from the
existence of four long and rather narrow scales. Scales of the
temple obtusely carinated, not imbricated; those of the back
strongly and acutely carinated and disposed in numerous rows,
converging backwards towards the dorsal crest. Ventral scales
rhomboidal, not carinated. Dorsal crest elevated, composed of flat
vertical scales, so closely placed as to constitute an almost
continuous line, extending from the neck to the end of the tail.
Tail somewhat compressed at the base, becoming nearly round
towards the middle. Scales beneath the feet and toes carinated.
COLOUR.—The colour of this species is thus stated in Mr. Darwin’s
notes:—“Upper part clove brown, passing into black brown with
black spots. Sides slightly tinted with orange; some of the scales
of the crest near the head are white; belly nearly white; the
whole of the throat before the fore legs glossy black. This is the
most common variety in the Archipelago. The black spots are not
unfrequently placed in waved transverse bars, and are sometimes
arranged longitudinally.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 9
of the body 2 8
of the tail 5 8
──────────────────────────────────
Total length 9 5
Of this species, one of the most beautiful in the whole order of
Saurians, Mr. Darwin obtained numerous specimens, one only of which is
fully adult. In the younger individuals the dorsal crest is low and
almost inconspicuous. It differs very materially from either of the two
species previously described, and I have dedicated it to Mr. Gray, who
first distinguished the genus. Mons. Bibron, unaware that Mr. Gray had
already constituted the genus under the name _Leiocephalus_, named it
_Holotropis_. I have, however, retained the former name, as having the
claim of priority.
_Reptiles. Plate 13._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_1. Gymnodactylus Gaudichaudii._
_2. Naultinus Grayii._
It constitutes one of the numerous interesting novelties obtained by Mr.
Darwin in the Galapagos. The specimens, which are of various ages, were
taken in Chatham Island and in Charles Island.
GENUS—CENTRURA. _Bell._
_Caput breve, triangulare. Aures magnæ, anticè cutis plicâ, haud
dentatâ, partìm celatæ. Nares magnæ, rotundæ. Gulâ transversè
subplicata. Collum atque corpus haud cristata; hoc depressum, latum,
cute longitudinalitèr plicatâ. Cauda teres, basin versus
subdepressa, squamis fortibus spinosis verticillatis. Squamæ capitis
numerosæ, parvæ, rotundatæ, non imbricatæ—corporis minimæ, rotundæ,
subconvexæ, læves. Pori femorales et præ-anales nulli. Dentes
palatini._
The propinquity of this genus both to _Oplura_ and to _Doryphorus_ is
very obvious. It differs, however, from both in several structural
characters. From the former in the absence of denticulations on the
anterior margin of the ear, and of a nuchal crest; from the latter in
the presence of palatine teeth. Its place is probably between these two
genera.
CENTRURA FLAGELLIFER. _Mihi._
PLATE XIII.—FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION.—Head almost equilaterally triangular, the muzzle rounded;
scales of the head small, nearly equal, rounded, not imbricated,
those of the temples subconical; nostrils round, large, confined
to the nasal scales. Ears rather large, the tympanum lying beneath
the surface, and partly concealed by an anterior fold of skin,
which is not denticulated, as in _Oplura_. Skin of the neck folded
at the sides, that of the body flaccid, and with strongly marked
lateral folds, extending from the shoulder to the thigh. Scales of
the neck and back very small, round, slightly convex, very smooth.
Skin of the throat rugose, with a transverse pectoral fold not
very strongly marked. Scales of the throat similar to those of the
back; those of the belly broader and less convex; all perfectly
smooth. Tail about the length of the head and body, flattened at
the base, then round, surrounded with strong spinous verticillated
scales, of which there are about fifty circles; beneath smooth.
Legs of moderate length, strong, covered with small conical,
imbricated scales. The toes compressed towards the extremity, and
terminated with a strong, short, compressed nail.
COLOUR.—The colour can only be partially described, as the specimen
has been long in spirits. It is of a dark brown colour above, with
darker, obscure markings on the body. About the head are traces of
green. The tail and limbs are rich brown, and the under parts
dull, pale fuscous.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 8
of the neck 0 4
of the body 2 5
of the tail 3 7
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 7 4
Length of anterior extremity 1 4
of posterior extremity 2 0
FAMILIA—GECKOTIDÆ. _Gray._
GECKOTIENS OU ASCALABOTES. _Bibr._
GENUS—GYMNODACTYLUS. _Spix._
GYMNODACTYLUS GAUDICHAUDII. _Bibr._
PLATE XIV.—FIG. 1.
_Squamâ mentali impari pentagonâ, scutiformi; squamarum labialium
inferiorum paribus quinque, superiorum paribus sex; caudâ medio
crassiore._
_Gymnodactylus Gaudichaudii._ Bibr. Rept. III. p. 413.
This species was first brought from Coquimbo by Gaudichaud, after whom
it was named by Mons. Bibron, who described it in his work; but as one
specimen alone exists in the French National Collection, and as the
species has never been figured, it is thought desirable that a figure
should be given in the present work. The characters above given
sufficiently distinguish it from all other species; but for a detailed
description, the reader is referred to the “Histoire des Reptiles” above
quoted.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 4
of the tail 2 3
──────────────────────────────────
Total length 4 2
_Reptiles Plate 14._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_1. Leiocephalus Grayii._
_2. Centrura flagellifer._
The specimens brought home by Mr. Darwin were from Port Desire, in
Patagonia, and the following observations occur in his MS.
notes:—“Centre of the back yellowish brown, sometimes with a strong
tinge of dark green; sides clouded with blackish brown; in very great
numbers under stones; makes a grating noise when taken hold of; after
death loses its darker colours.
“A specimen being kept for some days in a tin box, changed colour into
an uniform grey, without the black cloudings. I thought I noticed some
change after catching and bringing home these animals, but could observe
no instantaneous change.”
I have considered these specimens as belonging to the species to which I
have assigned them, because they exactly agree with Mons. Bibron’s
description. It is, however, very possible that an opportunity of
comparing them with those obtained by Gaudichaud, would show them to be
distinct, as it rarely happens that the same species of reptile is found
on the opposite sides of the American Continent.
GENUS—NAULTINUS. _Gray._
NAULTINUS GRAYII.
PLATE XIV.—FIG. 2.
_Omninò viridis; fronte subconcavo; squamulis capitis planis._
DESCRIPTION.—Head thick, swollen across the posterior part, concave
between the eyes, and forwards nearly to the snout, which is
rounded. Scales of the head larger towards the fore part, nearly
flat. Eyes round, large; ears longitudinally oval. Body covered
with small nearly equal scales. Tail round, one-fifth longer than
the body. Limbs short, the anterior, when placed against the side,
reaching but little more than half way to the thigh; the posterior
reaching about two-thirds the distance towards the shoulder. Toes
short; on the anterior foot the first is the shortest, then the
second, the fifth, and the fourth; on the posterior increasing in
the same series; all compressed towards the extremity, and all
furnished with small curved close claws.
The colour is a fine green.
It was taken at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It lives on trees, and
is said to make a laughing noise.
This species greatly resembles _Naultinus Elegans_[3] of Mr. Gray, of
which a beautiful specimen is in the British Museum. Upon a comparison
of the two, however, I find that they differ in the following
particulars. In the present species the head is concave between the
eyes, and forwards nearly to the snout; in the other, this part is quite
plain; the scales of the head in this species are flat; in the other
they are convex. The colour of this species is uniformly green, whereas
_N. Elegans_ has several markings of a yellow colour, each distinctly
bordered with black.
Footnote 3:
See Fauna of New Zealand, p. 203. Zool. Misc. p. 72.
FAMILIA—LACERTIDÆ.
GENUS—AMEIVA. _Cuvier._
AMEIVA LONGICAUDA. _Mihi._
PLATE XV.—FIG. 1.
_Squamis suprà-humeralibus, rhomboideis, imbricatis; subfemoralibus
transversim hexagonis; abdominalibus in seriebus decem
longitudinalibus dispositis; caudâ, corpore cum capite plus quam
duplò longiore, squamis medio carinatis, et ad margine
subcarinatis._
Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—Head very narrow, much elongated and pointed, the vertex
flattened; nostrils rather large, open, round, directed laterally,
and placed in the centre of the naso-rostral plate; superciliary
plates three in number, the central one the largest; suprahumeral
scales rhomboidal, imbricated, not broader than long, in four
series; those of the arm transversely hexagonal; the anterior
surface of the thigh, and the inferior of the leg, covered with
large hexagonal, somewhat imbricated, scales; caudal scales above
quadrate, longer than broad, with a strong medial carina, and the
lateral margins slightly raised; beneath smooth; tail very long.
Anterior extremity placed against the body, reaching rather more
than half way to the thigh; posterior extremity extending forwards
nearly to the ear.
COLOUR.—The upper surface of this beautiful species is dark brown or
blackish, with nine distinct white or yellowish longitudinal
fasciæ extending through the whole length of the neck and body;
tail with four of these lines. Under parts white.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the neck 0 3
of the body 1 4
of the tail 5 2
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 7 5
Length of anterior extremity 0 7
of posterior extremity 1 5
_Reptiles. Plate 15._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins.
C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
_1._ _Ameiva longicauda._ _Nat. Size._
_2. 2a. 2b._ _Gerrhosaurus sepiformis._ „
_3._ _Cyclodus Casuarinæ._ „
Found at Bahia Blanca by Mr. Darwin. The specimens are probably all of
them very young; hence the longitudinal lines can scarcely be considered
as permanent, as most species of the genus are beautifully lineated in
the young state. The length of the tail, with its carinated scales, the
general elegance of the form, the gracile form of the head, and the neat
and distinct arrangement of the colours, render this one of the most
beautiful species of this elegant genus.
The description of the colours given above, being from specimens which
have been long in spirits, it is necessary to state that Mr. Darwin has
the following notice respecting one of them—“On the sides two dark red
streaks; tail red.”
FAMILIA—ZONURIDÆ.
GENUS—GERRHOSAURUS. WEIGMANN.
GERRHOSAURUS SEPIFORMIS. _Bibr._
PLATE XV.—FIG. 2.
SCINCUS SEPIFORMIS, Schneid. Hist. Amph. II. p. 191. Merr. Syst. Amph.
p. 70. n. 1.
GERRHOSAURUS SEPIFORMIS, Bibr. Hist. des Rept. V. p. 384.
_Corpore cum caudâ longo, serpentiformi; pedibus parvis; squamarum
submaxillarum pari secundo contiguis; squamis dorsalibus magnis,
subrectangularibus, striatis, in seriebus tredecem, et ventralibus
in seriebus octo dispositis._
Habitat, Cape of Good Hope.
After a careful examination of the data from which the different
synonyms of this species, and of _Gerrhosaurus flavigularis_, Bibr.,
have been derived, I am inclined to agree with this author, that the
present is the true _Scincus sepiformis_ of Schneider, and of Merrem,
and not _Scincus flavigularis_ as supposed by Wagler, Weigmann, and
Gray. It is very fully described by Bibron in the “Histoire Naturelle
des Reptiles,” but it has not hitherto been figured. There is no notice
of it in Mr. Darwin’s notes, further than its having been obtained at
the Cape of Good Hope.
FAMILIA—SCINCIDÆ.
GENUS—CYCLODUS. _Wagler._
CYCLODUS CASUARINÆ. _Bibr._
PLATE XV.—FIG. 3.
_Aurium margine anteriore simplici; squamis corporis, in seriebus XXIV
dispositis._
“_Kèneux de la casuarina_, Cocteau, Tab. Synopt.” (_v._ Bibr. Hist. Nat.
des Rept. V. p. 749.)
_Cyclodus casuarinæ_, Bibr. l. c.
As I have not the work of the lamented Dr. Cocteau by me, I quote the
above reference from M. Bibron’s work, in which this species is fully
described. It differs from the other species of this curious genus in
many minute characters of the scaling of the head, but the most tangible
and obvious distinctive character consists in the number of series of
scales, which does not exceed twenty-four, all around the body, whilst
in the others, they amount to thirty-four or thirty-eight. It would
appear that it is liable to some considerable diversity in colour and
markings. That which M. Bibron describes, has “the head of a yellowish
grey, the whole of the upper part of the body olive grey, and the
inferior part whitish grey.” The specimen in the collection of the
Zoological Society has the whole upper part of a brownish grey, with
twelve black lines extending from the neck along the back and tail,
corresponding with the sutures of the longitudinal series of scales. The
under surface of the tail is marked by about thirty transverse,
interrupted, black bands. The following is the description given by Mr.
Darwin from his specimen when taken,—“Scales on the centre of the back
light greenish brown, edged on their sides with black; scales on the
sides of the body above greyer and with less black, below reddish: belly
yellow, with numerous narrow, irregular, waving, transverse lines of
black, which are formed by the lower margin of some of the scales being
black; head above grey, beneath whitish.” Mr. Darwin adds, that the
motion of the body, when crawling, resembles that of a snake. It is not
very active. Coleoptera and larvæ were found in its stomach. “It is
common in the open woods near Hobart Town in Van Diemen’s Land.”
_Reptiles. Plate 16._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
_1._ _Rana Delalandii._ │_Nat. Size._
_2._ _Rana Mascariensis._ │ „
_3. 3a._ _Limnocharis fuscus._ │ „
_4._ _Cystignathus Georgianus._│ „
CLASSIS—AMPHIBIA.
ORDO—ANOURA.
FAMILIA—RANIDÆ.
GENUS RANA.
RANA DELALANDII. _Bibr._
PLATE XVI.—FIG. 1.
_Dentibus palatinis in serie transversâ, medio interruptâ, dispositis;
membris posterioribus corpore cum capite duplò longioribus; pedibus
posticis gracillimis, semipalmatis._
_Rana Delalandii_, Bibr. Hist. Rept. VIII. 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 the 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 half 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.
Inches. Lines.
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.
RANA MASCARIENSIS.
PLATE XVI.—FIG. 2.
_Dentibus palatinis in fasciculis binis obliquis distantibus, ad
marginem interiorem narium posteriorum attingentibus; tympano
circulari, mediocri; digitis posticis usque ad phalanges penultimas
connexis: plantis tuberculo unico; cute dorsi lævi, longitudinalitèr
plicatâ; suprà fusco-rufescens,fasciâ longitudinali pallidâ._
_Rana Mascariensis_, Bibr. Hist. Rept. VIII. p. 315.
Habitat, the Mauritius.
This pretty species of the typical genus of the family was described by
Bibron, but has not hitherto been figured. It was found in Mauritius, on
swamps near the sea, by Mr. Darwin, who remarks on the extraordinary
height of its leaps. It has also been found in the Seychelles,
Madagascar, and the Island of Bourbon.
GENUS—LIMNOCHARIS. _Bell._
_Lingua ovalis, integrâ, margine posteriore libero. Dentes palatini
utrinque in fasciculis duobus dispositis, quorum alter ad marginem
anteriorem narium interiorum, alter pone nares interiores, prope
arcum maxillarem. Nasus terminalis, truncatus, ultra labium
productus. Tympanum conspicuum, circulare. Cutis omninò lævis.
Digiti anteriores liberi, posteriores ad basin tantùm palmati._
The genus _Limnocharis_ is remarkable for the existence of palatine
teeth in a part of the mouth in which they have never been observed in
any other amphibian. Not only is there a small group or line of these
contiguous with the anterior margin of the posterior nares,—a situation
in which they are found in some other genera of _Ranidæ_, but there is
also a group of them placed at some distance behind the posterior margin
of these openings, and close within the rise of the maxillary arch. This
genus, of which one species only is at present known, will probably be
most naturally placed between the true _Ranæ_ and certain of the
_Cystignathi_.
LIMNOCHARIS FUSCUS. _Mihi._
PLATE XVI.—FIG. 3.
Habitat, Rio Janeiro.
DESCRIPTION.—Head semi-oval, depressed, as broad as it is long. The
muzzle truncated, extending beyond the lips, which it overhangs.
Tongue oval, entire, free at the posterior margin. Palatine teeth
in two parcels on each side; one consisting of very few at the
anterior and inner margin of the posterior nares, the other behind
those openings, in the angle formed by the maxillary arch and the
orbits. Posterior nares large and oval. Tympanum conspicuous,
nearly circular. Skin every where perfectly smooth, without glands
or pores. Anterior legs of moderate length and size. The fore-arm
rather longer than the upper arm. Fingers of moderate length,
wholly detached. Hinder legs little more than one-third longer
than body. The toes separate, excepting a slight rudiment of a
connecting membrane at their base, which extends, though very
narrow, along their sides, the extremity very slightly notched.
COLOUR of the upper part rich dark brown. The thighs lighter,
obscurely banded with dark brown. Under parts pale blueish grey.
The throat dotted with brown.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 4
of the anterior extremities 0 7
of the posterior extremities 1 8
Found in brooks at Rio Janeiro by Mr. Darwin, who states that it is
infested with acari; and I observe, in the specimen under examination,
several marks in the skin, from whence these have been taken.
GENUS—CYSTIGNATHUS. _Wagler._
CYSTIGNATHUS GEORGIANUS. _Bibr._
PLATE XVI.—FIG. 4.
_Dentibus palatinis perpaucis, in fasciculis binis approximatis, pone
nares posteriores; lingua integrâ, oblongâ; tympano celato; pedibus
posterioribus non palmatis._
_Crinia Georgiana_, Tschudi Class. Batrach.
_Cystignathus Georgianus_, Bibr. Rept. VIII. p. 416.
This species, which formed the type of Tschudi’s genus _Crinia_, was
separated by him from _Cystignathus_ on account of the form of the
tongue, the nonappearance of the tympanum, the paucity of palatine
teeth, and the total absence of an interdigital membrane on the hinder
feet. These characters being either merely comparative or unimportant,
were not considered by Bibron as sufficient to warrant a generic
separation, and I have followed him in retaining the species amongst the
_Cystignathi_. It was first discovered by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard at
King George’s Sound, in Australia, where it was also obtained by Mr.
Darwin. It is a beautiful species; the back being of a rich brown
colour, with a pale orange fascia extending along the sides from the eye
to the thigh, becoming bright orange on the flanks. Thighs and legs
banded with rich deep brown and bright orange.
GENUS—BORBOROCŒTES. _Bell._
_Lingua ovata, posticè libera, rotundata; anticè subacuminata. Dentes
palatini in fasciculis binis plùs minùsve obliquis, pone nares
posteriores positi. Tympanum celatum. Digiti anteriores haud
palmati; posteriores ad basin tantùm cute connexi. Glandulæ cutaneæ
nullæ. Sacculi vocales (maris) utrinque sub lingua nascentes._
The two species on which I have founded this genus approach so nearly to
some species of _Cystignathus_, that it is not without hesitation that I
determine on considering them as typical of a new generic form. The
principal characters on which I have founded the distinction are the
position of the palatine teeth, the form of the tongue, the concealment
of the tympanum, the absence of glands and pores on the skin, and the
connexion of the base of the hinder toes by a rudimentary palmar
membrane. It is true that some of the species of _Cystignathus_, as that
genus is at present constituted, agree with the present form in some or
other of these particulars; but upon the whole they are sufficiently
distinct; and in fact the genus _Cystignathus_, as left by M. Bibron,
appears to me to stand in need of revision and dismemberment. The
species constituting the genus now proposed, are however both new. The
genus _Borborocœtes_ will probably stand, in its natural affinities,
between _Cystignathus_ and _Cycloramphus_, from the latter of which it
differs in the situation of the palatine teeth, in the degree to which
the hinder feet are webbed, and the comparative length of the hinder
legs. The two latter characters are of importance as indicating a
difference of habit; and we find that _Cycloramphus_ has proportionally
short hinder limbs, with the toes extensively palmate, whilst in
_Borborocœtes_ the hinder legs are much longer, and the toes scarcely at
all webbed. The former structure indicates a greater power of swimming,
and the latter of leaping.
_Reptiles. Plate 17._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._
]
_1._ _Borborocœtes_ _Bibronii._ _1a. Mag. View of Tongue & Gullet._
_Nat. Size._
_2._ _Grayii._ „
_3._ _Pleurodema_ _Darwinii._ „
_4._ _elegans._ „
_5._ _bufoninum._ „
BORBOROCŒTES BIBRONII. _Mihi._
PLATE XVII. FIG. 1.
_Dentibus palatinis in fasciculis distantibus obliquis pone nares
posteriores positis; palmis bituberculatis._
Habitat, Chiloe and Valdivia.
DESCRIPTION.—Head depressed, the vertex slightly concave between the
orbits; front (space included between two lines drawn from the
anterior corner of the orbits to the point of the nose) triangular
and distinct. Nostrils lateral. Eyes rather prominent. Tongue
broad, ovate, acuminated in front, behind entire and rounded, the
posterior half and the sides detached. Palatine teeth in two oval
parcels, direct obliquely backwards and inwards, and situated at
some distance behind the line of the posterior margin of the
nares. Tympanum concealed. Body rather depressed and short. Skin
smooth and without pores or glands, excepting on the posterior and
inferior surface of the thighs, where there are some small
granular elevations. Pore legs two-thirds the length of the head
and body. The fore-arm rather larger than the upper arm. The
fingers entirely separated, the third considerably the longest. A
small tubercle under each joint, and two on the palm near the
wrist. Length of the hinder legs to that of the head and body as 5
to 3, or rather more. Toes connected only at their base. A small
tubercle under each joint, and a very depressed one at the base of
the inner toe.
COLOUR of the upper parts fuscous, with a lateral fascia extending
from the orbit nearly to the thigh, of a dark-brown colour,
bordered with whitish; and another of an elongated triangular form
on each ilium. Legs with transverse incomplete faciæ of the same
colour. Under parts grey, with numerous brown dots.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the body and head 1 5
of the anterior extremities 1 0
of the posterior extremities 2 6
Taken at Valdivia and at Chiloe, in a thick forest, by Mr. Darwin.
BORBOROCŒTES GRAYII. _Mihi._
PLATE XVII.—FIG. 2.
_Dentibus palatinis in fasciculis subcontiguis paulò obliquis, pone
nares posteriores positis; palmis non tuberculatis._
Habitat, Valdivia.
This species considerably resembles the former in most of its
characters. The palatine teeth, however, form at once a certain and
tangible distinction and there are some minor points in which they
differ, sufficient at a glance to determine them. The head in the
present animal is broader than it is long; in the former the breadth is
only equal to its length. The palms are in this species without
conspicuous tubercles; in the other there are two, although very small.
In colour it differs much from the former. The general colour is a rich
fuscous brown, rather paler beneath; the flanks, the throat and belly,
and the whole of the thighs and legs, with various white markings, those
of the throat and belly being the smallest. This species was found in
the forest, in Valdivia.
GENUS—PLEURODEMA. _Tschudi._
I have thought it right to follow Tschudi in separating from the genus
_Cystignathus_ of Wagler, such species as have large and conspicuous
lumbar glands, particularly as they all agree in possessing a much more
bufonine aspect than the others. The discovery of three new species, all
agreeing in these characters with _Pleurodema Bibronii_ of Tschudi,
increases the importance of the grounds upon which this separation is
made.
PLEURODEMA DARWINII. _Mihi._
PLATE XVII.—FIG. 3.
_Dentibus palatinis paucis, minimis; lingua subcordatâ, vix
emarginatâ; glandulis lumborum magnis, rotundis, convexis; digitis
posticis ad basin tantùm membranâ connexis; dorso sparsìm
tuberculato-glanduloso; suprà pallidè virescens, maculis
fusco-olivaceis._
Habitat, Maldonado.
_Reptiles. Plate 18._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on Stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
_1. 1a._ _Leiuperus salarius._
_2. 2a. 2b. 2c._ _Pyxicephalus Americanus._
_3. 3a. 3b._ _Alsodes Monticola._
_4. 4a._ _Litoria glandulosa._
_5. 5a. 5b._ _Batrachyla leptopus._
DESCRIPTION.—Head triangular, rather broader than long. Muzzle
rounded. Eyes slightly prominent. Tongue somewhat heart-shaped,
scarcely emarginated behind. Palatine teeth very few, and with
difficulty perceptible, placed in two small groups between the
posterior nares. Body thick and broad, with numerous glandular
tubercles scattered over the surface, principally on the anterior
parts, and assuming somewhat of a longitudinal arrangement. Lumbar
glands large, round, and prominent. Legs robust and short. Toes of
the fore feet wholly separate, with a small tubercle under each
joint, and two larger ones at the hinder part of the palm. Hinder
toes, with a rudimentary membrane at the base, a small tubercle
under each joint; the first and second toes very short. A conical
tubercle at the inner, and another at the outer side of the
metatarsus.
COLOUR.—The upper surface is beautifully marbled with dark olive or
black, on a light-green ground; some of the markings assume
somewhat of an ocellated form, and approach to a symmetrical
arrangement. The lumbar glands are more strongly coloured than the
other parts, the centre being black, and nearly surrounded by a
bright line of very light green, or nearly white. The thighs are
numerously banded with the prevailing colours, and a tinge of
orange or red. Beneath pale; in some specimens blackish under the
chin.
The aspect of this species is remarkably bufonine; and this character is
increased by the numerous glandular tubercles on the surface of the
body, and pores about the parotid region. It is, doubtless, similar in
its habits to many of the toads.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 4
of the anterior extremities 0 8
of the posterior extremities 1 7
It was repeatedly found by Mr. Darwin at Maldonado, near the mouth of
the river La Plata.
PLEURODEMA ELEGANS. _Mihi._
PLATE XVII.—FIG. 4.
_Dentibus palatinis prominentibus, in fasciculis binis ovatis obliquis
dispositis; lingua rotunda integrâ; glandulis lumborum ovalibus,
valdè convexis; digitis posticis haud palmatis; dorso
tuberculato-glanduloso, fusco, nigro obscurè maculato, fasciâ
longitudinali pallidâ._
Habitat, Valparaiso, Valdivia, and Archipelago of Chiloe.
DESCRIPTION.—Head semi-elliptic, as broad as long. Muzzle rounded.
Eyes very slightly prominent. Tongue large, round, entire, very
thick. Palatine teeth prominent, disposed in two oval groups,
extending obliquely backwards and inwards, but separated by a
considerable interval. Body somewhat depressed and elongated, with
many prominent glandular tubercles, and with pores about the
parotid region. Lumbar glands of moderate size, of an elongated
oval form, and very convex. Legs rather slender, the anterior feet
with the third toe considerably the longest; a small tubercle
under each joint of all the toes, and several small inconspicuous
ones on the palm; hinder legs rather elongated, the toes long,
particularly the fourth, the first very short; a small tubercle
under each joint; the inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, the
outer one inconsiderable.
COLOUR.—The markings of this species are very elegant and striking.
The ground colour of the upper parts is a rich brown, with darker
cloudings and marks; a light yellowish longitudinal line running
all the length from the nose to the extremity of the body, a very
irregular fascia on each side of the same colour enclosing a brown
oblong spot on the upper lip, another just behind the tympanum,
and two others on the sides; there is also a brown fascia from the
extremity of the nose to each eye; the lumbar glands are black and
yellow, distinctly marked. The limbs are obscurely banded with
brown and pale yellowish. The colours in some specimens are more
obscure than in that figured, and they appear to lose their
clearness with age.
The following are the colours of the brighter individuals according to
the observations of Mr. Darwin:—“Yellowish and broccoli-brown,
with darker brown marks; broad medial dorsal line, pale gallstone
yellow; lumbar glands saffron yellow and jet black.” Another
specimen was “ash-grey with blackish brown marks.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 8
of the anterior extremities 1 0
of the posterior extremities 2 4
The general habit of this species is much more in accordance with its
relation to the _Ranidæ_ than that of the other species of the genus.
Its general form is more elongated and depressed, and the limbs,
particularly the hinder ones, are longer in proportion to the body. It
is certainly very near _Pl. Bibronii_ of Tschudi, but still undoubtedly
distinct.
PLEURODEMA BUFONINUM. _Mihi._
PLATE XVII.—FIG. 5.
_Dentibus palatinis prominentibus, in fasciculis binis ovalibus,
obliquis, dispositis; lingua subcordiformi, subemarginata; glandulis
lumborum maximis, ellipticis, planis; digitis posticis dimidio ferè
palmatis, marginatis; dorso glandulis parvis instructo,fusco-griseo
maculis, nigris, lineâ longitudinali pallidâ_.
Habitat, Port Desire, Patagonia.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short. Muzzle rounded. Eyes prominent. Tongue thick,
slightly heart-shaped, scarcely notched on the posterior margin.
Palatine teeth prominent, in two oval groups, converging
backwards. Tympanum rather small, perfectly round, conspicuous.
Parotid glands distinct. Body thick and broad, with small
glandular tubercles dispersed over the surface, particularly at
the anterior part. Lumbar glands extremely large, elliptic-ovate,
flat. Legs of moderate length, rather robust. Anterior toes
separated, excepting at the base; a small tubercle under each
joint, and several very small ones on the palm; hinder toes united
to about half their length, and bordered on each side to the
extremity; metatarsal tubercles prominent; soles of the hinder
feet with many minute tubercles.
COLOUR.—The upper surface of this species is of a brownish grey
colour, sometimes greenish brown or dark olive, and with numerous
irregular spots of dark-brown or black. Thighs and legs with
fasciæ of the same colour. Beneath yellowish white; in some with
numerous blackish dots under the throat.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 8
of the anterior extremities 1 0
of the posterior extremities 2 3
Found by Mr. Darwin at Port Desire, in Patagonia, and high up the river
Santa Cruz—“probably,” says Mr. Darwin, “the most southern limit for
this family.”
GENUS—LEIUPERUS. _Bibr._
LEIUPERUS SALARIUS. _Mihi._
PLATE XVIII.—FIG. 1.
_Suprà nigricans, lumbis maculis 3 vel 4 nigris, albo-marginatis._
DESCRIPTION.—The head is short, the opening of the mouth small, the
tongue rather thick, very slightly emarginate behind, and with the
posterior margin free. The eyes small; the tympanum not very
conspicuous; there is a trace of a parotid gland on each side of
the neck. The body is rather thick, and the limbs proportionally
short. The hinder toes are only connected at the base by a
rudimentary membrane, the first four gradually increasing in
length, and placed along the side of the matatarsus, one beyond
the other; the fifth on the same line as the fourth, but not more
than half its length. The metatarsal tubercle is rather prominent,
and there are small subarticular tubercles on the toes of all the
feet.
COLOUR.—The colour of the upper parts is brownish black. On each side
near the thigh are three or four perfectly round black spots, each
surrounded with a white line. The under parts whitish.
Of this second species of a rare and remarkable genus, one specimen only
exists in Mr. Darwin’s collection. It is only the third known instance,
in the family of the RANIDÆ, of the absence of palatine teeth; the
others being _Oxyglossus Lima_ of Tschudi, and _Leiuperus marmoratus_ of
Bibron. The present genus must be considered as nearly approaching the
family of the BUFONIDÆ in the absence of palatine and the extreme
minuteness of the maxillary teeth, in the extremely small gape of the
mouth, the thick form of the body, the shortness of the limbs, and the
existence of rudimentary parotid glands. I have not had an opportunity
of comparing this specimen with those on which Bibron founded the genus,
but I cannot doubt the specific distinction between them.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 0 9
of the anterior extremities 0 5
of the posterior extremities 1 1
It was found by Mr. Darwin at Port Desire, and its habitat is very
remarkable. “It is bred in and inhabits water far too salt to drink.”
GENUS—PYXICEPHALUS. _Bibr._
PYXICEPHALUS AMERICANUS. _Bibr._
PLATE XVIII.—FIG. 2.
_Lingua cordiformi; dentibus palatinis in lineâ transversâ interruptâ,
inter nares posteriores positis; tympano celato; dorso mammillato._
This curious species has, I believe, only once before been found. A
single specimen exists in the French Museum, which was brought from
Buenos Ayres by Mons. d’Orbigny, and which formed the subject of Mons.
Bibron’s description. Mr. Darwin’s specimen was taken on the open plains
at Monte Video.
Of the three species of this remarkable genus at present known, two are
inhabitants of Africa, from whence they were brought by Delalande. As
neither of them has as yet been figured, it was thought desirable that
the present opportunity should be taken to exhibit some of the generic
characters, and especially the hard horny spur on the hinder foot.
This genus is one of those bufonine forms of the RANIDÆ which
irresistibly lead us to doubt the correctness of the present received
arrangement of the anourous Amphibia.
GENUS—ALSODES. _Bell._.
_Caput convexum. Lingua anticè acutè-producta, posticè rotundata, et
libera. Dentes palatini inter nares posteriores. Tympanum celatum.
Aperturæ Eustachianæ haud conspicuæ. Digiti anteriores ad basin
tantùm—posteriores usque ad phalangem tertium membranâ connexi._
A genus of the Raniform group, nearly allied, as Mons. Bibron observes,
to _Scaphiopus_, by the structure of the hands, which, although without
any projecting rudimentary thumb, has a small process under the skin,
along the extreme margin of the first finger. In common with the genus
_Bombinator_, it has the opening of the Eustachian tubes so small as
scarcely to be detected.
ALSODES MONTICOLA. _Mihi._
PLATE XVIII.—FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION.—Head semi-elliptical, somewhat convex, with the muzzle
nearly perpendicular; vertex smooth. Eyes of moderate size.
Nostrils very small, opening upwards. Tongue broad and rounded
behind, narrowing to a point at the apex, detached at the
posterior part. Palatine teeth in two small approximate patches,
between the posterior nostrils. Openings of the Eustachian tubes
scarcely visible. Extremities of moderate length. The fore feet,
with four rather short toes, connected at the base by a short
membrane; the inner toe broad, and with a slight projection under
the skin, along its inner margin; hinder toes connected as far as
the joint of the second and third phalanges.
The colour of the only specimen in the collection has become totally
changed into a smoky brown by the spirit, but the following is Mr.
Darwin’s description of it when living: “On the centre of the back a
strong tinge of grass-green, shading on the sides into a yellowish
brown; iris coppery.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 0
of the anterior extremities 0 9
of the posterior extremities 1 8
Mr. Darwin found this species “in the island of Inchy, archipelago of
Chonos, north part of Cape Tres Montes, from the same great height as
_Bufo Chilensis_ (from 500 to 2500 feet elevation) under a stone.”
GENUS—LITORIA. _Bibr._
LITORIA GLANDULOSA. _Mihi._
PLATE XVIII.—FIG. 4.
_Femoribus posticè glandulosis; digitis posticis brevitèr palmatis._
This species agrees in many respects with _Litoria Americana_ of Bibron.
It differs, however, in the toes being much less palmate, at least
according to the generic character given by that excellent naturalist,
and in the existence of numerous thick glands on the posterior part of
the thighs. The very slight degree to which the extremities of the toes
are dilated in the other species of this genus, and which would at first
sight lead to their allocation amongst the Raniform rather than the
Hyliform group, is in the present species even more strongly exhibited;
and it can scarcely be said that any dilatation exists at all.
The colours in the only specimen brought by Mr. Darwin are much
obscured. The upper parts are apparently of an uniform brown, the under
parts whitish, dotted with brown.
It was taken by Mr. Darwin at Concepcion, in Chile.
GENUS—BATRACHYLA. _Bell._
_Lingua suborbicularis, posticè libera. Dentes palatini in fasciculis
binis obliquis inter nares posteriores dispositi. Tympanum
distinctum, parvum, rotundum. Digiti depressi, ad apicem paullò
dilatati, truncati. Anteriores ad basin tantùm—posteriores paulò
plus palmati._
This genus, which considerably resembles _Hylodes_, is nevertheless
sufficiently distinct from it, in the distribution of the palatine
teeth, in the form of the dilatations of the toes, in the presence of a
small palmar membrane, and some other points. One of the most remarkable
of its characters is the form of the dilatation at the extremity of the
toes; it is very small, transverse, truncated, and even a little
emarginate; in this respect it must be considered as constituting a very
near approach to the family of the RANIDÆ. We are unfortunately without
any information as to the habits of the only known species which could
throw any light upon its relations; but it is very clear that the
dilatations of the toes are not such as to constitute it a true
_tree-frog_, nor, on the other hand, are the connecting membranes of
sufficient extent to give it the typical character of the swimming group
of these animals.
BATRACHYLA LEPTOPUS. _Mihi._
PLATE XVIII.—FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION.—Head depressed, broad, rounded. Nostrils small, placed
near together. Eyes large, opening considerably upwards. Tongue
nearly round, the posterior part free for about one-third of its
length. Palatine teeth placed in two small oval groups, placed
obliquely, between the posterior nostrils, separated from each
other by a considerable space. Tympanum small, nearly round. Limbs
of moderate length. The toes on all the feet depressed, slender,
the terminal dilatation very small, transverse, truncated; those
of the fore feet connected at the base only, those of the hinder
to the union of the first and second phalanges; of those of the
fore feet the third is the longest, then the fourth, the second,
and the first; of the hinder the fourth is the longest, then the
third and fifth equal, then the second and the first. There are
some minute scattered glands on the posterior part of the thighs.
The only specimen in Mr. Darwin’s collection is in so bad a condition,
that it is impossible to say with any certainty what is its natural
colour. It is brown above, with a lighter band across the head between
the eyes, and there are traces of a longitudinal line down the back; the
limbs are banded with brown and brownish yellow; the under parts are
pale, dotted with brown.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 0
of the anterior extremities 1 0
of the posterior extremities 2 1
Found by Mr. Darwin at Valdivia.
GENUS—HYLORINA. _Bell._
_Caput subrotundum planum. Linguæ magnâ circularis, posticè libera.
Dentes palatini in lineâ transversâ, parum interruptâ, dispositi.
Tympanum distinctum. Digiti subdepressi, ad apicem obtusi, haud
expansi; anteriores ferè liberi; posteriores ad basin membranâ
connexi, et marginati. Femora multò glandulosa._
A genus nearly allied to _Hylodes_, from which, however, it may at once
be distinguished by the palmure of the hinder toes—which in _Hylodes_
are entirely free—and by the absence of even the slightest dilatation of
their extremities; offering another example of an osculant form between
the HYLIDÆ and the RANIDÆ.
HYLORINA SYLVATICA. _Mihi._
PLATE XIX.—FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION.—Head broad, rounded, the anterior margin, from the nose
to the lip, nearly perpendicular. Eyes large and prominent.
Tympanum distinct, small, round. Tongue very large, circular, and
entire, the posterior half free. Palatine teeth placed in a
transverse line between the posterior nostrils, scarcely
interrupted in the middle. Skin of the back rugose. Anterior feet
with the toes long, rather slender, united at the base only by a
very short membrane, with round subarticular tubercles, the apex
rounded, but not presenting the slightest expansion. Hinder toes
similarly formed, but with the connecting membrane more
conspicuous, and extending along the sides of the toes nearly to
the extremity. Thighs covered on the under and posterior surface
with rather large and distinct glands.
_Reptiles. Plate 19._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature on stone by B. Waterhouse Hawkins._
_C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
_1. 1a._ _Hylorina_ _syvatica._
_2. 2a._ _Hyla_ _agrestis._
_3. 3a._ _Vauterii._
The following is the description of the colouring, as given by Mr.
Darwin from the living specimen. “Above fine grass green, mottled all
over with copper colour, which nearly forms two longitudinal bands;
beneath entirely of a lurid reddish lead colour. Iris brown.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 1 0
of the body 1 8
of the anterior extremities 2 1
of the posterior extremities 4 4
Found by Mr. Darwin in the Archipelago of Chonos (S. of Chiloe) in thick
forests.
GENUS—HYLA.
HYLA VAUTERII. _Bibr._
PLATE XIX. FIG. 2.
_Linguæ subcordiformi, posticè emarginatâ. Dentibus palatinis in
fasciculis binis ovalilibus, subcontiguis. Oculis prominentibus.
Capite tam lato quam longo. Gulâ bi-plicatâ; suprà levitèr—infrà
multùm granulosâ. Dorso fusco-griseo, punctis, maculis et fasciis
lateralibus nigris_.
_Hyla Vauterii._ Bibr. MS.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short, thick, the sides anteriorly converging
towards a nearly right angle, the muzzle rounded. Tongue nearly
cordate, posteriorly emarginate, free for about one-fourth of its
length. Palatine teeth in two oval fasciculi, placed nearly
transversely between the posterior nares, and almost contiguous.
Eyes prominent. Tympanum circular, rather large. Body plump, the
sides nearly parallel for two-thirds of its length. The skin
nearly smooth, but covered with very small inconspicuous
granulations over the whole upper surface, which are rather more
obvious on the head. The throat, the belly, and the inferior
surface of the thighs covered with large prominent granulations.
Beneath the lower jaw the granulations are smaller, and the under
surface of the limbs excepting the thighs is quite smooth. A small
fold of skin over the tympanum passes backwards to the arm; and
beneath the throat there are two considerable transverse folds,
one of which is before and the other immediately behind the arms.
Fore feet, with the palms covered with small granular tubercles,
and a tubercle under the joints of the fingers, which are
connected to about one-third of their length. Hinder legs longer
than the head and body by the whole foot and tarsus. The soles
tuberculated. Toes rather short, palmate to half their length.
COLOUR.—The whole of the upper parts are greyish brown, with a tinge
of red, and minutely punctured with black. There are scattered
spots of the latter colour on the back and sides, assuming
somewhat of a longitudinal arrangement, and a broad blackish grey
fascia extends from the eye backwards to the arm, including the
tympanum, and this fascia is bordered beneath by a white line. The
thighs and legs are barred and spotted with black. The under parts
are yellowish white, excepting under the lower jaw, where it is
finely mottled with black and white.
I received the name of this species from Mons. Bibron, who had, I
believe, applied it to specimens in the Paris Museum. It was taken by
Mr. Darwin at Maldonado, lurking under a stone, and at Rio Janeiro on
palm-trees.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 6
of anterior extremities 0 9
of posterior extremities 2 5
HYLA AGRESTIS. _Mihi._
_Capite brevi. Oculis subprominentibus. Tympano mediocri circulari.
Lingua subrotundâ, posticè libera, anticè angustatâ. Dentibus
palatinis in fasciculis binis, paulò separatis, ad marginem
postico-interiorem narium posteriorum. Dorso granuloso. Gulâ
plicatâ. Digitis anticis ad basin tantùm, posticis usque ad
phalanges penultimas palmatis. Suprà viridis, lineâ albâ laterali,
femoribus posticè atque lateribus abdominis, albis,
nigro-maculatis_.
Habitat, Maldonado, in grassy fields.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short, thick, the two sides of the muzzle
approaching each other at a rather acute angle, rounded at the
extremity. Eyes rather large and prominent. Tympanum circular, of
moderate size, and very distinct. Tongue entire, rounded, and free
behind, narrowed, and almost angular in front. Palatine teeth in
two oval parcels separated by a very small interval, and placed on
a line with the hinder margin of the _posterior nares_; the whole
of the back covered with extremely small granules; a slight fold
or elevation of the skin commencing above the posterior margin of
the tympanum, and extending backwards just above the arm, in front
of which it is met by a more considerable one which crosses the
throat from side to side; the under parts covered with large
granules; fore feet with the toes palmated only at the base;
hinder ones palmated to four-fifths of the length.
The colour of this beautiful species is thus given by Mr. Darwin:—“Above
emerald green, beneath white; a silvery white stripe bordered beneath
with a very narrow black line, extends from the corner of the eye, along
the side, to the thigh; a smaller one at the corner of the mouth; the
posterior surface of the hinder legs and the flanks marked with black
spots. Iris gold coloured; tympanum brown.”
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 8
of the anterior extremities 1 0
of the posterior extremities 2 8
The young of this species, instead of the bright green colour of the
upper parts, is of a delicate grey with small brown markings; and a
lateral fascia of brown, bordered above and beneath with a white line,
extends from the fore part of the head backwards, the upper white line
nearly to the thigh, the inferior one to the shoulder. The black spots
on the flanks and thighs are but just visible.
This species so nearly resembles the _Hyla pulchella_ of Mons. Bibron,
at least as far as his description enables me to ascertain its
characters, that it was with some hesitation that I came to the
conclusion that they are distinct. Exclusive, however, of the difference
of colour, the back of the present species is granulated, and the throat
still more distinctly so, whereas the other animal has the skin on the
upper parts, as well as on the anterior part of the throat, quite
smooth. The palatine teeth also appear to be somewhat differently
arranged.
Mr. Darwin observes, that this species was found in numbers in the open
grass plains, and likewise in swamps, about Maldonado, and that they can
never ascend trees, as these are entirely wanting at the places
frequented by the Hylæ.
FAM.—BUFONIDÆ.
GENUS—RHINODERMA. _Bibr._
_Lingua cordato-ovata, posticè libera et subemarginata. Dentes
palatini nulli. Tympanum celatum. Glandæ parotideæ nullæ. Digiti
breves, depressi; anteriores ad basin tantùm, posteriores ferè
dimidio palmati. Rostrum cutis appendiculo filiformi instructum._
RHINODERMA DARWINII. _Bibr._
PLATE XX.—FIG. 1, 2.
_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._ „
BUFO CHILENSIS. _Bibr._
Of this species, which has been described under different names by many
naturalists, and the synonymy of which has only lately been cleared up
by Mons. Bibron, there exist numerous specimens in the collection of Mr.
Darwin, who found it at Buenos Ayres, and also in the Archipelago of
Chonos, on the west coast of South America. It is certainly remarkable
that the same species should be found on the opposite sides of the
Continent; but on a careful examination I do not find any specific
distinctions between the specimens from the different localities. The
Prince de Wied has described it as found at Brazil, under the name of
_Bufo cinctus_, and it is also well known as having been repeatedly
procured in Peru and in Chile; but Mons. Bibron has in his work
considered them all as belonging to but one species. The following
account of its habits as given by Mr. Darwin is very curious and
interesting:—“These Toads are exceedingly abundant all over the treeless
damp mountains of granite, crawling about, and eating during the
daytime, and making a noise similar to that which is commonly used in
England to quicken horses. Many of them on being touched close their
eyes, arch their back, and draw up their legs (as if the spinal marrow
was divided), probably as an artifice. They are remarkable from their
curious manner of running like the Natter Jack of England; they scarcely
ever jump, neither do they crawl like a toad, but run very quickly.
Their bright colours give them a very strange appearance. They abound at
an elevation of 500 to 2500 feet.”
GENUS—PHRYNISCUS.
PHRYNISCUS NIGRICANS. _Weigm._
PLATE XX.—FIG. 3, 4, 5.
_Dorso granuloso, scabriusculo. Pedibus posticis subpalmatis. Corpore
membrisque nigris, abdomine maculâ magnâ transversâ ad partem
posteriorem et maculâ rotunda utrinque medium versus, palmis atque
plantis, omnibus coccineis._
_Phryniscus nigricans._ Weigm. Nov. Act. Leop. XVII. p. 264. Bibr. Hist.
Rept. VIII. p. 723.
_Chaunus formosus._ Tschudi Classif. Batrach.
Habitat, Maldonado and Bahia Blanca.
This curious little species has been described by Weigman under the
present name,—by Tschudi under the generic name of _Chaunus_, and fully
by Bibron, who retained the name originally given to it by Weigman. It
now remains only to correct, from Mr. Darwin’s notes, some points
respecting the colours, which had been mis-stated in consequence of the
action of the spirit in which the specimen had been preserved. The
colour of this curious miniature representation of a Toad, is “ink
black,” excepting the palms and soles of the feet, a large transverse
spot across the posterior part of the abdomen, two smaller ones near the
middle, and in some specimens a few scattered little spots, all of the
most intense vermilion red. There is one specimen from Bahia Blanca
which has also some small “buff-orange” spots on the upper part.[4] Mr.
Darwin observes that “the appearance of the vermilion colour is as if
the animal had crawled over a newly painted board;” and he adds—“This
Toad inhabits the most dry and sandy plains of Bahia Blanca, where there
is no appearance of water ever lodging.” The other specimens were taken
at Maldonado, where it inhabits the sand-dunes near the coast. Mr.
Darwin threw one into a pool of fresh-water, but he found it could
hardly swim, and he thinks, if unassisted, it would have been soon
drowned.
Footnote 4:
This specimen from Bahia Blanca has a much smoother skin than the
others; but from its similarity in all other characters there can be
no doubt of its specific identity with them.
This species is diurnal in its habits, and may be daily seen under a
scorching sun, crawling over the parched and loose sand. M. D’Orbigny
brought specimens from Monte Video.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head and body 1 0
of the anterior extremities 0 5
of the posterior extremities 0 8
GENUS—UPERODON. _Bibr._
UPERODON ONATUM. _Mihi._
PLATE XX.—FIG. 6.
_Capite multò latiore quam longiore. Dorso olivaceo, maculis fuscis,
albo marginatis_.
Habitat Buenos Ayres.
DESCRIPTION.—Head more than half as broad again as it is long, and
equal in breadth to half the entire length of the head and body.
Muzzle rounded. Nostrils oval, opening upwards and a little
outwards. Eyes rather large, the upper eyelids forming perfect
flaps, which entirely cover the eyes. Body rounded, very broad.
The shoulders and thighs wholly concealed by the skin of the body.
Limbs very short. The anterior feet very broad. The toes somewhat
depressed, very short, bordered with a fold of skin. Hinder feet
with the toes more depressed and more distinctly bordered. Back
covered with small glands.
COLOUR.—The colour of the upper surface is dark olive, becoming
lighter at the sides, and having numerous dark brown spots, which
are round, oval, elliptical, or irregular, of very various sizes,
placed somewhat symmetrically, and each bordered with a whitish or
yellow line. Beneath pale, excepting the throat, which is black.
I have ventured to consider this remarkable amphibian as specifically
distinct from _U. marmoratum_ of Bibron; a conclusion to which I have
been almost imperatively led, by the fact of its inhabiting a different
hemisphere from all known specimens of that species. The other was found
by M. Leschenault in the interior of the peninsula of India: the
specimen from which the present description is taken was obtained by Mr.
Darwin at Buenos Ayres. Notwithstanding the similarity of the two
species, which is so great as to have led Mons. Bibron to consider them
as identical, I could not assent to such an anomaly as the existence of
an animal, at once so rare and possessed of such limited powers of
locomotion, in two regions so widely remote. I have not the opportunity
of comparing the specimens of the former species with the present, but,
even from Mons. Bibron’s description, I believe that I can discover
sufficient discrepancies between the animals, to bear me out in the view
I have taken. These discrepancies I venture to place in the following
tabular view, and leave zoologists to form their own conclusions.
UPERODON MARMORATUM. UPERODON ORNATUM.
“La tête offre en arrière une Head fully half as broad again as
largeur à peu près égale à son it is long, and equal in breadth to
longueur totale, laquelle entre half the total length of the
pour le quart environ dans animal.
l’étendue de l’animal.”
“On pourrait considérer la peau Back covered with numerous _small_
comme étant parfaitement lisse, si glandular tubercles, notably
l’on ne voyait éparses sur le elevated.
dessus du tronc un certain nombre
de verrues glanduleuses d’un assez
grand diamètre relativement à la
grosseur de l’animal, mais fort peu
saillantes ou à peine convexes.”
“Les parties supérieures de ce All the spots on the back are quite
Batracien présentent sur un fond distinct, not in any way passing
olivâtre, d’énormes taches brunes, into each other or connected, and
_toutes confluentes, ou each encircled by a white line.
s’anastomosant diversement_.”[5]
Footnote 5:
Bibr. Rept. VIII. p. 749.
LONDON:
Printed by STEWART and MURRAY,
Old Bailey.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
Page Changed from Changed to
16 minutè granulato. Seriebus minutè granulato. Seriebus
duabas squamarum supralabialium. duabus squamarum supralabialium.
Femorum facie Femorum facie
● Fixed typos; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
● Renumbered footnotes.
● Corrected the issues mentioned in the Errata
● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
● Enclosed blackletter font in =equals=.
● Images without captions use HTML alt text.
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