1912.J N. Annandai^e : Batvachia. 15 



growing in thickets in damp jungle are accurately reproduced. 

 The back and the dorsal surface of the head and limbs are in all 

 dull clay-colour sparingly powdered with black and suffused more 

 or less definitely with yellow, the canthus rostralis is outlined in 

 black, the ventral surface is pale j^ellow and the inner surface 

 of the thighs wholly or partly scarlet. In one individual there is a 

 narrow black, white-edged line running backwards along each side 

 from the eye to the base of the hind limb, while the back of the 

 head and the back are ornamented with two large irregular marks 

 outlined by similar lines. In this specimen, which appears to be 

 an adult male, there are also dark longitudinal lines on the limbs 

 and on the inner margin of the fifth toe and the web that inter- 

 venes between that toe and the fourth. In the second individual, 

 a female, the sides of the back are so strongly suffused with yellow 

 that they may be described as ochraceous, the webs of the feet are 

 almost black and the red colour of the inner surface of the thigh 

 extends down that of the shin. In another male, rather smaller 

 than the first, there are small black spots on the back and a dark- 

 edge white line running transversely on the dorsal surface above 

 the vent. The fourth specimen, probably a young male, has no 

 very definite markings. The colouration of the dorsal surface in 

 all the specimens bears a close resemblance to that of a bamboo- 

 stem overgrown with minute fungi and lichens such as are usuall}^ 

 found on bamboo-stems in a very damp atmosphere. The scarlet 

 of the thighs would be completely concealed in the attitude of 

 rest. 



It is interesting to have the opportunity of comparing 

 Anderson's types with fresh specimens of the species, but it is still 

 more interesting to be able to put on record the peculiar circum- 

 stances in which these specimens were taken. They were found in 

 an internode of bamboo which was intact as regards both its sides 

 and its two nodes, except that there was in one side a small hole 

 apparently made by some insect, less than a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter. When the bamboo was split open in preparation for 

 bridge- making the four frogs were seen seated on the inner surface 

 near one end (the upper at the time), while two earthworms and a 

 land planarian occupied the other. There can be little doubt, 

 therefore, that they had entered the bamboo as small frogs and 

 had been supplied with food by the intrusion of worms and other 

 small animals through the hole by which they had originall}^ 

 entered, and from which their increase in bulk rendered it impos- 

 sible for them to emerge. In spite of the fact that the^^ must have 

 lived for some considerable time practically in the dark they had 

 preserved their colouration, which was of a distinctly protective 

 type. 



Four specimens from Upper Rotung (alt. ca. 2,000 ft.) : 

 22nd January 1912, collected by Capt. the Hon. M. de Courcy. 

 Anderson's specimens were from Sibsagar in N.-E. Assam. This 

 place is situated on the northern bank of one of the smaller 

 tributaries of the Brahmaputra. 



