_Lepidobatrachus._–Large teeth in the upper jaw, and two large tooth-like projections in the lower jaw near the symphysis. Vomer toothless. Sacral diapophyses not dilated. Tongue round, and free behind. Tympanum distinct. Great development of the membrane-bones on the head, and a weaker ossification in the skin of the back, recalling that in _Ceratophrys_. The eyes are closely set together, and the nostrils take up the most elevated portion of the head. Pupil horizontal. The two species of this genus were discovered by Budgett[93] in the Paraguayan Chaco. _L. asper_ lives continually in muddy pools, floating with just the eyes and nostrils above the surface. If disturbed it slowly sinks to the bottom, leaving no ripple. It feeds largely on _Bufo granulosus_. Total length from about 3 inches. The skin of the upper parts is tubercular, tough, and of a dull leaden colour; the tips of the toes are horny. _L. laevis_ is smooth and slimy, "with the organs of the lateral line showing clearly upon it," a feature elsewhere known to exist in _Xenopus_ and _Leptobrachium_ only. _Leptodactylus_ = _Cystignathus_.–Some twenty species inhabit tropical America, from Central Mexico to Buenos Aires. The fingers and toes are not webbed and end mostly in points; only a few species, e.g. _L. hylaeodactylus_, having small adhesive discs. {219}The legs are long and the general appearance is very much like that of an ordinary frog. One of the commonest and prettiest Brazilian species is _L. ocellatus_, which is characterised by a number of longitudinal glandular folds on the back and flanks. The colour of the upper parts is olive-brown, that of the prominent folds is yellowish white, interspersed with black spots. The under parts are yellowish white, with blackish marblings on the throat. The males have a sharp black spur on the inner carpal edge and one on the rudiment of the thumb. Total length about 4 inches. According to Hensel[94] the spawning takes place in Rio Grande do Sul after hibernation. The voice of the male is then very loud, resembling the sound made by a carpenter chopping a beam. They repair to ponds and produce a cup-shaped puddle, about 1 foot in width, by raising a wall of mud, which separates the inner water from that of the pond. The tadpoles remain in this nursery until the spring-rains demolish it and set the young ones free. Drought causes the drying up of these water-pans and subsequent destruction of the brood.