THE ZOOLOGY OF BRITISH INDIA. 317 



not nearly so numerous in forms, little more tlian 50 being treated 

 of in the present work. The subclass is divided into three orders, 

 Batracbia salientia, or Tail-less Batrachians, B. caudata, or Tailed 

 Batracbians — and B, apoda, or Burrowing Batracbians. Altbougb tbe 

 last section is bere arranged at tbe foot of tbe subclass, some details 

 are given concerning tbe structure of certain members of it (as we 

 sball notice further on) wbicb lead to tbe inference that it would be 

 more naturally placed at tbe bead of it. Of Batracbia salientia, 

 Dr. Giintber gives an account of 47 species, belonging to tbe conti- 

 nental portion of tbe Indian Fauna, wbicb be is able to refer to 

 their correct place in tbe Systema, either from personal examination, 

 or from trustworthy accounts of other Naturalists. But as among 

 tbe E/eptilia proper, so among tbe Batracbia, many named species 

 have been so imperfectly described by previous authors, that Dr. 

 Giintber bas not been able to "make bead or tail" of them, as 

 tbe saying is. Dr. Jerdon, Mr. Blytb, and tbe late Mr. Hallo well of 

 Philadelphia, are the writers that seem to have been tbe chief 

 offenders in this way, according to Dr. Giintber, who bas occasion- 

 ally bestowed some rather severe remarks upon them, and upon 

 others who have done like them. Some of these strictures would 

 have been certainly better omitted, as tbe bare fact that " it is 

 impossible to recognize" a description, is quite sufficient condemna- 

 tion of it. But we cannot think that Dr. Jerdon has acted wisely in 

 printing the very angry letter on this subject, given to the world 

 in the last number of tbe " Annals of Natural History."* Dr. Giin- 

 tber' s reply has not yet appeared, but we anticipate one that will 

 give very little satisfaction to the complaining party, although it is 

 possible that Dr. Giintber may have overstated his case in one 



The Batracbia caudata, or Batrachians in which tbe tail is persis- 

 tent through life, are, as is well known, entirely confined to the 

 northern parts of both hemispheres — the Palsearctic and Nearctic 

 Eegions. Two stragglers only can in any sense be said to belong to 

 tbe Indian Region. One of them is a newt of the genus Cynops, 

 from Mngpof in China, which is after all not far from the boundaries 



• Remarks on Observations contained in Dr. Giinther'swork on the Reptiles of 

 British India. By T. C. Jerdon, Ann. Nat. Hist., 1865, p. 416. 



t About 30° N.L. 



