38 DR. MALCOLM SMITH ON 



is at rest, and is below tiie surface of tlie water, this flap is 

 lowered and is curved backwards upon itself ( Fig. AI ) ; but when 

 feeding at the surface, it is raised and spread out, ( Figs. 2 and 4 ), 

 and tlien forms a very shallow, saucer-like arrangement, the purpose of 

 which is to act as a funnel, and to furnish as large an area as possible 

 for catching any minute particlis fljatiiig upon the water, and which 

 are drawn towards it by thi strong sucking action of the creature. 

 The lower jaw is constantly in action, as has been already described 

 with the other tadpoles of this genus. Whether these tadpoles actually 

 feed upon particles in the water, I could not find out, but that the main 

 supply is drawn from the surface, is shown by the frequency with 

 which the}' are to be seen feeding there, and by the readiness with 

 which, on shaking the dust of decaying vegetable matter on to the 

 water, they will at once rise up and devour it. Large particles, or 

 those v.hicli are not suitable as food, are rejected and promptly spat 

 out again, but it is surprising, when the tadpole is fully grown, what 

 big pieces will be swallowed. With tiie protrusion of the fore legs, 

 this expansion commences to be absorbed, but the tadpole still con- 

 tinues to feed, though lesB greedily ; and it continues to do so almost up 

 to the time of leaving the water. 



Colour. Dark brown to black ; sides of the head and body, 

 between the eyes and the coil of gut, more or less transparent. A gold 

 mark between the eyes (very conspicuous when young), and with or 

 without gold or orange patches upon the sides of the body and tail. 

 Caudal membrane colourless, or with minute black speckles.* 



* iJestriptioiis of the cdluuratioii of tadpoles must not be taken too 

 strictly, as they arc liablo to vrii-iatioii. 1'liis variation appears to allfi-t entire 

 broods, rather than separate individuals. Tlu' orii!;iiial description of M. aclmthia 

 was drawn up from specimens reared during 1914 and ID 15. Tliey were dark 

 brown to black in colour, with a transparent patch on ciilier side of tiie body 

 between the eyes and the coil of gut, and a gold bar between tlie eyes. A brood 

 taken this year liad no transparent patch, and had, in addition to the gold 

 bar on the forehead, aconsiderabh; anioinit of yellow akmg the Hanks wbieh later 

 turned to orange. Anotlicr brood from near Pakiiampo, bad a brigiit yellow 

 spot at the base of the tail. 



The " transparent " tadjiole of Micnihijhi ontntfi, as described by Stanley 

 Flower, is iiy no me;ins always colourless, but can assume rpiite a respectalile 

 sliade of grey-brown, wliilst the peculiar arrangement of tlie pigmeutatinii of the 

 tail in Flower's unknown '' transparent" ladpule, (I'.Z.S. IfSDO, [i. '.HYA), may 

 exist in liotli M. mitatn and M. ac/mliiKi and probalily also does in otliers. 



Tiie tadpoles of CuUuhi jmhhrn have considerable power of cliaiigiug 



JOUK.N. NAT. IIIST. SOC. HIAM. 



