A NEW GENUS OF ENGYSTOMATID/E — FKY. 97' 



Australian species, bub this does not warrant our regarding the 

 two divisions of the family Hylidte, Arctogaean and Notogaean 

 as instances of convergent evolution. 



Turn then to the theory proposed, that Australian Hylidaj are 

 directly of Notogaean stock, and have entered the continent from 

 the south, not from the north. 



The authenticity of the theory of an Antarctic continent, 

 existing probably in Mesozoic times, with rays extending to South 

 America and Australia, is by now almost generally accepted as 

 established. Amongst the mass of evidence in favour of this 

 connection is the presence of Cystignathous frogs in Australia. 

 The home of the Cystignathidre is in South America, where they 

 are abundantly represented, and the greatest diversity of forms 

 and the more primitive types are found there. Their distribution 

 in the Australian continent and their dominance in the south- 

 east corner, the Euronotian Sub-region as modified by Mr. Hedley, 

 points to their entrance and early establishment in this corner, 

 from where they have migrated westwards and northwards, one 

 species only, as far as is known, entering New Guinea. Allowing 

 this mode of procedure to explain the presence of the Cystig- 

 nathidae in Australia, it is proposed that the presence of the 

 other dominant Aiciferous family, the Hylidse, be explained thus 

 also. It is impossible to regard them as cases of convergent 

 evolution, and the evidence against this view must be the evidence 

 advanced to disprove the existence of an Antarctic continent. 



Since the publication in 1882 of Dr. G. A. Boulenger's 

 monumental " Catalogue of Amphibia in the Collections of the 

 British Museum ", numerous additions have been made to the 

 Australian list in this class of vertebrates, both by European 

 and Australian authors. As no list of the species described since 

 its publication has appeared, a reference to the original description 

 of these species is here given. Unless stated to the contrary 

 the species are regarded as valid by the author. I have had the 

 opportunity of examining Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby's types, and 

 what remain of Mr. C. W. de Vis's typical specimens in the 

 Queensland Museum. Through the kindness of Mr. J. J. Fletcher, 

 to whom I am much indebted for his ever ready assistance, I have 

 been enabled from time to time to compare specimens with the 

 types in his fine collection. Of the species described since the 

 "Catalogue" the three recently characterised by Mr. J. Lamb 

 and Philoria frosti, Spencer, Hyla gilleni, Spencer, //. dayi, 

 Giinther and H. maculata, Spencer, are the only ones that I have 

 not examined. 



