TADPOLES FROM SIAM. 269 



mens that I have seen, have scarlet or reddish brown upon the tail, as 

 Annandale found with some ot those that iio obtained. 



M. butleri is common in many parts of Siam, both at sea level 

 and upon the hills. 1 have not yet obtained it at any great elevation. 



My tadpoles are from Ta Hua and Nong Pling (U. Siam), where 

 they are plentiful during July and August. They inhabit the deep pools 

 that have been made by the excavation of earth to form the railwaj* em- 

 bankment. 



None of those that 1 have kept have ever attained the size of 

 those developing under natural conditions, and in all of them also, a 

 distinct diminution in the brilliance of their colouration has taken 

 place while in captivity. 



Upon the gregarious habits of this tadpole, Annandale has al- 

 ready remarked, and it seems to be a family trait, for I have observed 

 it in other species belonging to this genus. 



Glyphoglossus molossus Gunth. 

 I iiave obtained the tadpole of this species also at Xong Pling 

 and Ta Uua in the months of July and August, and at Koh Lak in the 

 Peninsula, in February. They were found in ponds where the water 

 was of considerable depth. 



DESCRII'TIO.N OF TIIK TADPOLK. 



Head and body. Length one and one-third times its breadth, 

 snout broadly rounded. Nostrils midway between the eyes and the tip 

 of the snout. Eyes perfectly lateral, four to five times as far apart as 

 the nostrils. Spiraculum median, the opening below the centre of the 

 coil of gut. Anal tube long and curved, opening in the mid-line. 



Tail. Four to live times as long as deep, ending in a fine point. 

 Membranes shallow, almost straight, upper one, half the depth of the 

 lower, barely reaching to the back. 



Month. Simple, consisting of a nearly straight upper lip and 

 a contractile lower one, which forms a vertical slit when closed. 



Colour (in life). Pale greenish, greyish or brownish, more or 

 less translucent, sometimes almost colourless. Some dark patches of 

 pigment, in the mid-line, around the nostrils, between the eyes, and 

 at the base of the tail. Posterior part of tail often dark grey or 

 blackish. 



VOL. n, DEC. 1917. 



