AMPHIBIA. 73 



small indistinct tympanum, and low blunt cranial ridges serve to distinguish 

 this species from B. melanostidus. 



First described as a Himalayan subspecies of the latter form, it is now known 

 from a number of stations along India's upper frontier, always, however, among 

 the hills. B. bankorensis Barbour from Formosa is surprisingly closely related. 



Bufo melanostictus Schneider. 

 ScHNEiDEB, Hist. Amphib., 1799, pi. 3, p. 216. Boulbnger, Cat. Batr. Sal. Brit, mus., 1882, p. 306-307. 

 Stejneger, Bull. 58, U. S. nat. mus., 1907, p. 72-75. 



Type locality: — While the species was described from examples from east 

 India, Schneider also remarks that he had a Chinese specimen in the Blochian 

 museum. 



With considerable material before me, I am quite unable to find any con- 

 stant differences which would serve to distinguish specimens from the many 

 localities where tliis toad occurs. During 1906-07 the following specimens were 

 taken: — five from Calcutta, two from Kyouk-meoung, a town on the Irrewady 

 above Mandalay, one large individual from Penang, three from Batavia, and 

 twenty-one from Buitenzorg. 



Besides these I have examined three from Hong Kong (M. C. Z. 1,437, 2,129) ; 

 three from Saigon (M. C. Z. 1,318) ; one from Amballa (M. C. Z. 450); and one 

 very large specimen from the "East Indies" (M. C. Z. 1,313); also seven speci- 

 mens, taken by Mr. Agassiz's expedition to the Maldives, from Addu Atoll; 

 and ten from Male Atoll. The latter series shows well the changes which take 

 place during individual growth. The young begin with a smooth flat crown, 

 this is followed by small black prominences serially arranged. These extend, 

 fuse, and finally grow to the characteristic heavy cephalic ridges. At about the 

 time of fusion the concavity of the crown is noted;, during adult life this seems 

 to increase slowly, and in old individuals it is very much depressed. Bryant 

 had specimens from Batavia, Buitenzorg, and Depok. 



This toad ranges from Celebes, through continental Asia to China and 

 Formosa. It is also known from the Philippines, Sumatra, Banka, Riouw Island, 

 Natuna, Borneo, Java, and Madura. Bleeker, as van Kampen remarks (Zool. 

 ergeb. Max Weber's Reise, 1907, 4, 2, p. 416), has also reported it from Celebes 

 under the synonymous name Bufo scaber. He may have had specimens of either 

 B. celebensis or B. biporcatus. 



