■J 6 AMPHIBIA 



CHAP. 



Absence of Urodela (except AmUystoTna per simile*), of Cystigna- 

 thidae, and practically of the Hylidae, only two of which occur 

 in the Himalayan district. Jiut this great chain of mountains 

 should not be included within the region, while the outlying 

 spurs in Upper Burma (with Amhlystoma) are debatable ground. 

 Tlie subdivision of this widely extended region is beset with 

 difficulties, chiefly on account of ^Madagascar and Papuasia. The 

 fauna of Madagascar is very remarkable. All its Amphibia are 

 rirmisternal, a mixture of African and Indian forms. The island 

 agrees with Africa, in opposition to the Oriental countries, in no 

 special point ; all the Raninae, except Megalixalus, Rcqypio., and 

 two rather common species of Bn na, belong to different genera. 

 ^Madagascar differs from Africa liy the absence of Apoda, of 

 Aglossa, and Bufonidae. On the other hand, it agrees with India 

 or with the Malay islands, in opposition to Africa, by the possession 

 of Dyscophinae, of the Eanine genus Rliacopltorus, and the Engy- 

 stomatine genus Calo'pliTynii.8. 



Africa and India agree with each other, and differ from 

 Madagascar by the possession of Apoda, the genera Bvjfo and 

 JSfectophryne, and by the close resemblance of several genera of 

 Eaninae. 



India, the Malay islands, and Papuasia with Melanesia 

 possess Pelobatidae {Leptohrachium,* Batrachopsis,^ Aderopltrys*), 

 and thereby differ considerably from Africa and Madagascar. 

 Batrachylodes* of the Solomon Islands has unmistakable affinities 

 with PhrynodeTiiia* of Karen, between Burma and Siam : Oreo- 

 batrachus* of Borneo mucli resembles BJirytiobutracIivs* of West 

 Africa ; and Cornufer, typical of the Malay and Melanesian 

 islands, occurs also in West Africa. All tliese Eaninae indicate 

 that the Austro-Malayau and Melanesian islands belong to the 

 Palaeotropical region. Ceratohatrachus* type of a sub-family, is 

 peculiar to Melanesia. 



There are conse(^uently several possil)le modes of subdivision, 

 all with a different result, according to the group of Amphibia, 

 which we may select as of leading importance, r.y. Apoda or 

 Felol:)atidae, <ir Dyscophinae and B/iacophortis. The Kngy- 

 stomatinae and Eaninae are to be eliminated, since they occur in 

 all the countries in question. We have either to leave the 

 wliole region undivided — and it is a signiflcant fact that the 

 * indicates Anipliibia wliich ait.' peculiar to tlie respective regions or sub-regions. 



