BY J. J. FLETCHER. 367 



about the fourth or fifth day (longer if the weather is very 

 cool), the patches in the meantime spreading out and becoming 

 larger but losing their frothy appearance and showing signs of 

 disintegration. The spawn referred to the next section also is 

 without the frothy character, even when not attached to 

 twigs &c. as sometimes accidentally happens. At the same 

 time it must also be pointed out that in all the cases in which 

 L. tasmaniensis, and H. aurea spawned in dishes of water in 

 captivity the spawn was without the frothy appearance ; but the 

 very unnatural conditions of the surroundings and circumstances 

 probably will explain this. 



Such spawn may be found intermittently from about the middle 

 of July to the following April or May, sparingly at the beginning 

 and end of the season. If the conditions are favourable a good 

 deal of spawn may be met with in August, and again towards the 

 end of September or beginning of October or thereabouts ; if 

 however there is a spring drought then vigorous spawning may be 

 looked for about the middle of January, when heavy showers 

 accompanying thunderstorms may be expected. The ova are small 

 and numerous, and so far as I have seen have the pigmented pole 

 very dark, dark brown or blackish or even black, the unpigmented 

 portion being white or whitish, or slightly tinged with a dark 

 wash, about 1-1 '5mm. in diameter. 



The second section includes the spawn of Ovinia signifera, Hyla 

 ewingii var. calliscelis, and H. phyllochroa ; probably also H. 

 hrefftii and other small species. This kind of spawn in incon- 

 spicuous bunches of 1-2 inches long is symmetrically disposed 

 round grass- or reed-stalks or twigs, so that the spawn remains 

 submerged just below the surface of the water, very much as 

 described in certain American species. There are about 100 

 ova in a bunch, enclosed in clear jelly; and from the small 

 number of ova, and the slender nature of the supports, one would 

 expect them to have been deposited by small frogs. The ova of 

 Crinia signifera have the pigmented pole black, the rest of the 

 ovum being white ; of C. ewingii var. calliscelis orange and pale 



