438 BATRACHTA. 



Callula obscura. 



Snout short and depressed, but not obtuse in front ; back with flat tubercles. Limbs of 

 moderate length, the length of the hind limb being much moi"e than that of the body ; 

 fingers quite free, with the terminal disks well developed and truncated. Thigh not 

 enveloped by the skin of the trunk. Toes one-thii-d webbed, of moderate length, with the 

 extremities slightly swollen. Tarsus without fold ; metatarsal tubercles indistinct. Brown 

 above and below ; the upper parts with black, the lower with whitish spots. 



We have seen only one example of this species, and this is not in a good state of preser- 

 vation. It is from Ceylon, and 15 lines long, the hind limb being 21 lines, and the fourth 

 toe 6 lines. 



THE ORDER OF TAILED BATRACHIANS— ^^77?^C^/^ 



GRADIENTIA. 



Body elongate, terminating in a tail, with four or two limbs, lisard-like. 



The Tailed Batrachians have small teeth in both jaws and on the palate. They are either 

 viviparous or deposit their eggs singly, attaching them to water-^ilants. Their tadpoles have 

 externally visible gills, which in one family are persistent through the whole life of the 

 animal, whilst they disappear in the greater number of the genera at as early a period as in 

 the Tailless Batrachians. In others the gills are absorbed, but the gill-opening is never 

 closed. The fore limbs are developed before the hind limbs. 



The entire order is confined to the temperate regions of the northern hemispheres ; and 

 only recently one species has been discovered extending into the Indian region proper. I add 

 another because it inhabits a part of China, the fauna of which bears a thoroughly Indian 

 character. I have no doubt that by future researches in the Himalayas and in Formosa other 

 additions will be made, although they must always be considered merely as outposts of the 

 Palaearctic region. 



CYNOPS, Tschudi. 



Head of moderate size, body not elongate, tail compressed. Parotoids 

 present ; body without series of pores on the side ; skin granular. Palatine 

 teeth in two longitudinal series, divergent behind. Tongue narrow, scarcely 

 free on the edges. Limbs well developed, toes four in front and five behind. 



Two species are known, one from Japan and one from Northern China. 



