24 



blackish spots. Frequently a light vertebral line running from the 

 nose to the vent. Anderson says {I.e.) that the males during the 

 breeding season are pale greenish yellow with dark spots and a pale 

 vertebral streak, and are smaller than the females which are greyish- 

 olive with dark spots. 



This species, called by David R. lafrans, because of its barking voice 

 which is familiar during the monsoon, and generally known as the 

 *'bull frog," is very common througliout Southern India. The largest 

 specimen in the Madras Museum measures 6 inches from the tip of the 

 nose to the vent and 9 inches from the vent to the tip of the longest 

 toe. 



Specimens in the British and Madras Museums from Madras and 

 the Nilgiris (7,000 feet). 



In a note on the common Indian Otter, Lutra nair, Mr. Francis 

 Day writes (P.Z.S., 1873, p. 710) : " Mr. Thomas had some otters of 

 various sizes, which he had raised from babyhood in order to ascertain 

 what their usual food is. When very young each consumed about one 

 hundred frogs (Rana ci/anoj)hIi/ciis, Schn.) daily ; but in April, when 

 I saw them, they were about two-thirds grown ; these small frogs were 

 more difficult to procure, and they were having six to eight large bull 

 frogs {Rana f/(/rina, Daud.) daily. This king amongst the frogs does 

 not hesitate in eating those of the smaller species." 



5. Rana gracilis. 



Eana gracilis, Wiegm. Nova. Acta. Ac. Leap. 1835, p. 257 ; Pffers, 

 Mon. Berl. Ac. 1863, p. 78 ; Gunth. Rept. Brit. lud. 1864, p. 409, and 

 Proc. Zool. Sue. 1875, p. 567; f^feindachu, Novara. Amp//, p. 18; 

 Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1870, p. 142 ; Anderson, Proc. Zool. 

 Soe. 1871, p. 200, and Anat. Zool. Ren. Yunnan, 1878, p. 840 ; Blgr. 

 Cat. 1882, p. 28. 



Rana vittigera, Giinth. Cat. 1858, p. 9. 



? Rana nilagirica, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1853, p. 532. 



Rana agricola, Jerdon, I. c. 



Eana brevipalmata, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1871, p. 646. 



Rana lymnocharis, {Boie) Stoliczka, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1872, 

 p. 102, and Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1873, p. 116. 



*' Very closely allied to R. tigrina, from which it differs chiefly in 

 its smaller size, half webbed toes, and the presence of a small outer 

 metatarsal tubercle, which is, however, sometimes indistinct. The 

 relative length of the hind limb is very variable." {Blgr). As regards 

 the colour and marking of this species, these are described by Giinther 

 {Rept. Brit. Ind.) as " greyish olive v/ith large dark spots on the back 

 and limbs ; a triangular transverse spot between the eyes, with the point 

 directed backwards, is always present. A white vertebral line is rarely 

 wanting. Five broad short bands radiate from the orbit, forming two 

 spots below the eye ; the hinder band passes behind the tympanum. 

 Uniform white below." This species is stated by Jerdon {I.e. R. Nila- 

 girica) to have been seen by him only in marshes in the Wynaad and 

 Nilgiris ; whereas his R. agricola is said {I.e.) to be found in inundated 

 paddy fields and meadows and to be of a greenish coloui- mottled with 

 darker. 



