RANA. 397 



contiguous, longer tlian broad. One pair of froutals. Scales not imbricate, 

 tubercular or concave. Ventrals none^ or very narrow. Lower jaw 

 without notch in front. 



Pelamis bicolor, Baud. Bept. vii. ',p. 3G6 ; Gray^ Vip. 8naJiet^, p. 

 41 ; Ounth. Bep. Br. Lid. p. 382. H. variegata, ScJdeg. Faun. Japon. 

 tab. 8. Pelamis ornata. Gray, Vip. SnaJces, p. 43. 



Two or three post-orbitals. 45-51 rows of scales round the neck. 378- 

 440 scales in a lateral longitudinal series from the angle of the mouth 

 to vent, with or without tubercles. Colour variable. Upper pai*ts of 

 head and back uniform black, under parts and sides brownish olive or 

 yellowish. 



Hah. — Sind, Kutch and Bombay Coasts, also on the Beloochistan 

 Coasts, the Persian Gulf, and throughout the tropical and sub-tropical 

 parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 



Second Sub-Class, BATRACHIANS. 



Only one ventricle of the heart. Atrium incompletely divided into 

 two. Passing a metamorphosis. Breathing by gills in an early stage of 

 their development, the gills being permanent in some species. Two 

 occipital condyles. 



ORDER, BATRACHIA SALIENTIA. 

 TAILLESS BATRACHIANS. 

 Body broad, short, with four legs^ and without tail in the perfectly 

 developed state. 



Section opisthoglossa. Tongue adherent in front, and more or lesB 

 free behind. 



Family, RANID^. 



Ranina with webbed toes, cylindrical processes of sacral vertebrge, 

 and without paratoids. 



Hana, Auctorum. 



Habit generally moderate; fingers quite free, none of them opposed 

 to the others. Toes more or less webbed, generally with broad web. 

 Head covered with skin. Skin smooth, or with cutaneous or glan- 

 dular folds. Never a large paratoid gland. Vomerine teeth in two 

 series or groups. Tougue large, free, oblong and deeply notched 

 behind. Metatarsus with one or two blunt tubercles. Males with 

 two lateral vocal sacs, exceptionally wanting. 



Rana kuhlii, Scldeg. Mus. Legd. Bata.v. ; I), et B. Erpet. gen. 

 p. 384; Gunth. Batrach Salientia, p. 8; Bep. Br. Ind. p. 404, pi. 

 26. Eana corrugata, Peters. Monatsher, Berl. Acad. 1863, p. 412. 



Snout short, rounded, without cantlius rostralis. Eyes very promi- 

 nent, dii-ected obliquely upwards and forwards. Lower jaw generally 

 with a pair of very prominent fang-like apophysis in front. Vomerine 

 teeth small, in two oblique series, convergent behind. Skin on the 

 back with short longitudinal or transverse plaits, which become indis- 

 tinct with age, and with small tubercles, lliud limbs thick and short. 



