A LIST OF TRAVANCORE BATRACIIIANS. 501 



dives If disturbed either on the bank or wben floating ; and I have 

 never seen Rana hexadadyla perform in this way. 



The tadpole has been described by Dr. J. Anderson. It varies much 

 in size and I have always obtained the largest specimens here from ponds 

 near the sea. In his description Dr. Anderson gives the anus as direct- 

 ed to the right. I have found it to be on the median line. The breeding- 

 season seems to last throughout both monsoons, as tadpoles may bo found 

 any time between June and November. The embrace is axillary, the 

 hands of the male holding the female, which is much the larger, with the 

 hands well dug into the axils. The eggs are deposited in paddy fields 

 and ponds in a mass of frothy secretion. Toes of tadpoles webbed to the 

 tips. The tadpoles feed both on water weed and on flesh. 



3. Rana verrucosa. — I have found specimens of this frog in running 

 water at an elevation of four thousand feet on the hills, and on one 

 occasion obtained one in Trevandrum, but this appears to have been an 

 exceptional occurrence. 



4. Rana tigrina. — This fine bull-frog is very common throughout 

 the low country. It is a regular cannibal and feeds readily on the young 

 of its own species. In captivity it will eat raw meat and on one occasion 

 a specimen seven inches long ate another which was hardly less in size. 

 The breeding season begins as soon as the rains set in in May. The 

 embrace is axillary, the hands of the male clasp the female just 

 above, but not in the arm pits. The eggs are deposited in a frothy 

 mass. 



The tadpole has been described by Capt. Flower, but in his description 

 of the mouth he has omitted to mention that in the mucous membrane of 

 the upper jaw behind the beak and separated from it. there is a black 

 heart-3haped horny area which can be seen when the mouth is well 

 opened, also that there are similar but smaller areas at the angles of the 

 mouth in the upper jaw. Toes nearly entirely webbed. Tadpoles are 

 carnivorous. The variety ceylanica with a long inner metatarsal tubercle 

 also occurs. 



5. Rana limnocharis. — This is common thronghont the low country. 

 especially in paddy fields, and a variety hrevipalmafa is found on the 

 hills. Capt. Flower says that at Singapore " it does not attempt to 

 escape by jumping into the water, but even if touched, squats down closo 

 so is easily caught. The individuals I met at Chumar had this habit, 

 but elsewhere, at Taiping, Bangkok, &c, I have found them very agile 



