TADPOLES FROM SIAM. 41 



bear3 no resemblance whatever to the " transparent" tadpole of Stanley 

 Flower (P. Z. S. 1899, p. 903), and which he believed to belong to 

 this species. 



A good account of the spawning habits of this frog has alieady 

 been given by Mr. Ferguson ( Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, 

 Vol. XV, p. 391, 1904), and there is no need here to repeat his 

 remarks. I can, however, confirm them all. 



Callula piikhra spawns in Bangkok at least twice during the 

 rainy season. The first eggs are deposited some time during April. 

 Maj' or June, as soon in fact as a heavy fall of rain will provide them 

 with a sufficient supply of water. As the e.xact time of deposition can 

 never be foretold, the female is enabled to carry the eggs in her body 

 for a considerable period, ready for expulsion as snon as the proper time 

 arrives. I have found them stuffed with apparently ripe spawn as 

 earlj' as February. Siiallow water is invariabl}' chosen for breeding 

 purposes. Djep puddles, such as form afcer an hour or two of heav}' 

 rain, or road-aide drains are selected, whilst the deeper and more per- 

 manent water of ponds, even though close at hand and equally 

 accessible, is avoided. The instinct of the preservation of species 

 would here appear to be at fault, but this is overcome by the immense 

 numbers of young which are produced. For the majority of tiiese 

 shallow puddles, unless more rain falls within a few days, drj' rapidl}' 

 up, and the inhabitants perish. Millions must die every season from 

 this cause alone, but as Mr. Ferguson has remarked, "considering tho 

 vocal powers of the adults, this infant mortality can be contemplated 

 without sadness.""' 



The tadpoles of Callula pulchra are every active, constantly 

 moving about from place to place in search of food. The)' are unable, 

 by their own powers, to remains below the surface of the water, and 

 unless tucked away beneath some leaf or stone or other matter, rise 

 involuntarily to the surface, where they remain floating. They will 

 devour both animal and vegetable matter, and the more putrid it is, 

 the more they seem to like it. To watch them tackling a piece of 

 meat or fruit, one would imagine them to be tadpoles of the Ranid type 

 with horny beak and teeth, rather than to belong to the toothless 

 Engystomatid group. The lower jaw is in constant movement. 



VOL. II, JUNE 1916. 



