1918.] '^. Annandale & C. E. Naeayan Eao : Tadpotes. 29 



(b) Interior of mouth unarmed ; seven rows of teeth 

 on upper lip. 

 (i) Lips enlarged, forming a cup-like structure . R, sternosignata. 



(ii) Lips not enlarged Bhacophorus ma'ia' 



haricus. 



Oxyglossus lima, Gravenh. 



1916. Oxyglossus lima. Smith, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, II, p. 173, pi. 



An excellent description of this peculiar tadpole has recently been 

 given by Smith in the paper cited, which is not always accessible to 

 naturalists in India. As we have not been able to examine fresh speci- 

 mens, we quote his description. 



" Head and body, length twice, or nearly twice its breadth, snout 

 long, obtusely pointed. Nostrils equidistant between the eyes and the 

 tip of the snout. Eyes towards the upper surface of the head, looking 

 outwards and upwards, twice as far apart as the nostrils. Spiraculum 

 sinistral, directed straight backwards, nearer the vent than the eye, 

 long and prominent in life. Anal tube very short, median. Mouth 

 small, terminal, without papillae ; lower lip vertically horse-shoe shaped, 

 upper lip, a small rounded flap ; no teeth ; beak entirely black, lower 

 mandible deeply semilunar in shape. The lower lip, which occupies 

 the greater part of the mouth, itself projects from a sheath of skin, 

 which is formed by, and is part of, the skin of the rest of the body. 



Tail sharply pointed, very high at its commencement where it rises 

 almost abruptly from the base of the tail, diminishing gradually as it 

 passes backwards ; at its highest point about four times as deep as the 

 lower crest, which is very shallow. Toes webbed as in the adult. 



Colour {in life). — Light olive above, with darker markings ; a dark 

 streak through the eye passing backwards, and dark patches at the base 

 of the tail. Caudal membranes handsomely veined and marbled with 

 shades of brown. Below, white. 



Dimensions. — Total length, 33 mm., head and body 11. 



A feature of the tadpole is its high, festooned upper crest, which gives 

 it a very handsome appearance." 



Geographical distribution. — The species is said to occur in Bengal, 

 but it is doubtful whether it is to be found in the plains. Boulenger 

 (Faun. Malay Penin., Rept., p. 225) gives the distribution as " Bengal 

 and Southern China to the Malay Archipelago." 



Smith's tadpoles were from Siam. 



Specimens of larvae in the collection of the Indian Museum : — 



18291. Bangkok, Siam. Dr. Malcolm Smith. 



? Rana brevipalmata, Peters. 



? 1904. Rana limnocharis, Ferguson, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, XV, p. 601, 

 pi. A., fig. 3. 



1917. ? Rana brevipalmata, Annandale, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal VI, p. 134, ? pi. 



vi, fig. 6. 



There is considerable doubt as to the tadpole of this species, which 

 appears to be found both in Pegu and Tenasserim to the east and in the 

 Malabar Zone to the west of India. Without further material than 

 we possess it is useless to attempt to give a detailed description. 



