A)iato)iu/ of Aiislrtdlaii A ihj>Ii tlna. 245 



not in Pseudophryne australis. Chirolepteo alboijuttatns, Nota- 

 den bennetti, or Liiimodynastes dor.salis. 



IG. In all forni>> examined the Vasa effcrentia In-a.uch and 

 enter the ventral part of Bowman's capsule?, in the inner one- 

 third or two-thirds of the kidney. 



C(>u<://tsuf/is. 



It must be conceded that there is C(^nside'ra.ble evidence 

 given by the forms lierein described, tliat in the course of 

 their disappearance in the adult condition during- the evolution 

 of the CToup, the nephrostomes have be-en subjected to well- 

 marked modification — their original connection with the kidney 

 tubules being transferred to the Renal Veins, with a correlated 

 change of function from the passage of fluid to the exterior 

 from the body cavity, to that of lymph vessels. Moreover their 

 degree of development seems to be to a great extent individual 

 or characteristic of the species, varying greatly in harmony 

 with their functional importance both in turn being associated 

 apparently with differences in the hajbit of the animal. In 

 Notaden bennetti for some rea-on or other, alongside the cTcater 

 development in one direction, there seems to have been a check 

 to the harmonious development of these structures in all parts 

 of the kidney, since there are still present along the edges, 

 nephrostomial tubules in various stages of modification, as to 

 their iriternal connections. 



In all the species here described, of which male specimens 

 were obtained, we find that the separation of the male re- 

 productive ducts from the excretorv' ducts has not yet begun, 

 the condition being comparable to that found in Rana esculenta, 

 the higher stage found in Rana fusca not being present in the 

 Australian species so far examined. They are therefore far 

 less specialised than are the corresponding parts in Alytes 

 obstetricans, the most specialised known in the Anura. 



I have again to thank Professor Baldwin Spencer for the use 

 of the Biological Laboratory in the University of Melbourne, 

 where this work has been done, and for the use of his collec- 

 tion of specimens, and those of the Biological Museum, as well 

 as for much kindlv interest and valued advice. 



