504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XV- 



tion and is attached to the leaves of a tree or shrub overhanging the pool 

 or close to it. Within twenty-four hours the outbide of the nest attains a 

 parchment-like consistency and becomes brownish in colour. The eggs 

 are within and the tadpoles hatch out from them and feed in the 

 nest until the external gills are absorbed. They then drop out of the 

 bottom of the nest, and if they do not at once fall into the water they find 

 their way to it by wriggling along. Sometimes before the outside of the 

 nest has hardened, a species of blow-fly lays eggs in it and the maggots 

 feed on the frogs' eggs and pass their papa stage in the nest. The tad- 

 poles are carnivorous from the time they reach the water. 



Tadpoles. — Length of body twice its breadth, more than half the length 

 of the tail. Nostrils equidistant from the eyes and the end of the snout. 

 Eyes on the upper surface, situated nearer the spiraculum than the end 

 of the snout. The space between the eyes more than once and two- 

 fifths that between the nostrils, equal to the width of the mouth. Spir- 

 aculum on the left side directed backwards and upwards equidstant from 

 the anus and the end of the snout, visible from above and below. Anal 

 opening on the right when the legs first appear, m later stages on the 

 middle line. 



Tail. — Length more than three times the depth, which again is deeper 

 than the body. The muscular portion is less than half the total depth. 



Mouth. — Beak black, slightly serrated. Seven or eight rows of teeth 

 on the upper lip, the first of which is on the edge. The first two rows 

 are continuous, the third is narrowly interrupted in the middle, the re- 

 mainder are broadly interrupted by the beak. There are three uninter- 

 rupted rows of teeth in the lower lip. Fleshy papillse on the sides. 



Colour (in life). — Body purple closely dotted with dark-brown, tail 

 lighter. Length of body 16 mm., length of tail 26 mm., breadth of 

 body 8 mm., depth of tail 7 mm. The tadpoles are carnivorous. The 

 toes are nearly entirely webbed. 



15. Rliacopliotus maculatus. — The " Chunam Frog " is very com- 

 mon in the low country and often enters houses. It is very fond of sit- 

 ting in the Venetians of a door or window during the day and coming 

 out at night to feed. It has a remarkable power of changing its colour 

 to suit its surroundings. The breeding season lasts from June to Nov- 

 ember. The eggs are placed in pools in paddy fields or in ponds in a 

 more or less rounded mass of frothy secretion. The basin of the 

 fountain in the public gardens is a favourite breeding place. Sometimes 



