12 ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 7. N:0 7. 



Batrachians. 



Råna labrosa Cope. 



Tomopterna labrosa, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Se. Philad. 

 1868, p. 138. Pyxicephalus madagascariensis, Grandidier, 

 Ann. Soc. Nat. Zool. (ö) T. 15, 1872, Art. 20, p. 9. Råna labrosa, 

 BoETTGER, Kat. Batr. Senckenb. Mus. Frankfurt am Main p. 3, 

 1892. MocQUARD, Bull. Soc. Phil. 8 Ser. Torne 7, Paris 1894, 

 p. 105 and 125, 9 Ser. Torne 4, Paris 1902, p. 17. 



Four specimens from S:te Marie de Marovoay, 



1*-21/ 



III 



1906, among high grass in the field; at this time verv common 

 in these localities; 50 — 54 mm. in length between vent and tip 

 of snout. 



All the specimens are rather differently coloured; it seems, 

 then, as if the species is very variable in coulour. The ground- 

 colour varies from olive grey to light or dark brown. In one 

 of the specimens the median dorsal stripe is lacking, in the 

 others it is of a different breadth. The hght lateral stripes, 

 mentioned by Grandidier, are to be seen in two of the speci- 

 mens, though in the one of these they begin far behind the eye. 

 The arrangement of the dark spöts on the upper surface is also 

 very variable; in one specimen the}^ are, as Cope mentions, 

 disposed in pairs, the first pair being placed on the sides of the 

 snout and the second on the eyeHds, forming a dark crossband 

 between the eyes. In another specimen none but the posterior 

 spöts are placed in pairs, the others merge into tAvo longitudinal 

 bands, with the middle parts angularly bent inwards, and the 

 diverging anterior parts touching the eyelids. In this specimen 

 there is no dark crossband between the ej^es, the upper surface 

 of the head and a broad, very distinct space between the dark 

 bands and the spöts being light. In the two other specimens 

 the dark spöts are irregular, forming on the anterior part of the 

 back an hour-glass-shaped marking. 



In all the specimens we find a light streak from the anterior 

 corner of the eye to the upper lip, and a dark fold above the 

 tympanum, which latter is brown with a white centrum. The 

 crossbars are 4 or 5 in number on the thigh, 4 — 6 on the tibia. 

 The sides of the body are lighter than the upper surface. The 

 entire under surface is uniform yellowish white, only on the 

 chin are there small dark döts. The sides and the posterior 



Jg 



