BUFONIDAE 177 



inflamed, and ultimately remains enlarged, with the iris partially 

 or entirely destroyed by the maggot, which does not develop 

 further, but dies in the eye-chamber, this being really an unsuit- 

 able place for it. The eyesight is of course affected, and is mostly, 

 but not in all cases, lost. Such half -blind individuals the 

 disease affecting sometimes one eye only recover their health, 

 and except for a little awkwardness, behave like normal specimens. 

 This applies to Bufo vulgaris as well as to B. calamita. Australian 

 Anura are cursed with a fly of their own, called Batrachomyia. 1 



B. vulgaris inhabits almost the whole of the Palaearctic region \ 

 the whole of Europe, with the exception of Ireland, the Balearic 

 Islands, Sardinia and Corsica. Northwards it extends to Trondhjem, 

 and thence along a line drawn across Russia and Siberia to the 

 Amoor. Its southern limit in Asia is indicated by a line drawn 

 from the Caucasus through the Himalayas into China. In Asia 

 Minor and in Persia it is absent. South of the Mediterranean 

 it occurs only in Morocco and Algeria. 



B. melanostictus is the common toad of the whole Indian 

 region and of the Malay Archipelago. The epidermis of the fingers 

 and toes is thicker and more cornified than usual, and is stained 

 black brown, hence its specific name. The male has a subgular 

 vocal sac. In other respects the Indian species much resembles 

 the more spinous or rough-skinned and brown varieties of the 

 European species. According to S. S. Flower this toad is very 

 common in the Straits Settlements, hiding by day under stones 

 or logs, or in holes, coming out shortly before sunset, and remain- 

 ing abroad till dawn ; it may be met with on the roads and in the 

 grass, hopping or crawling about in search of ants, bees, and 

 similar food. It utters a rather feeble, plaintive cry when handled 

 for the first time. It can change its colour from light yellowish 

 to dark brown. The spawn, which resembles that of B. vulgaris, 

 may be seen in March and April in ponds, in long strings twined 

 about the water-weeds. The tadpoles are very like those of the 

 common English toad in form, size, colour, and structure of 

 mouth. The largest adult found in Penang measured 115 mm. 

 (about 4 inches) from snout to vent. 



1 For further information, cf. Portschinsky, " Biologie des mouches copro- 

 phages et necrophages, 2me partie. Etude sur la Lucilia bufonivora, parasite 

 des batraciens anoures." Horae Soc. ent. Ross, xxxii. pp. 225-279 (in Russian). 

 German summary in Zool. Centralbl. v. 1898, pp. 855-859. 



VOL. VIII N 



