1920.] G. A. BouLENGER : Frogs of the Genus Rana. 73 



not see it in the Nushki desert or in Seistan, where we could hardly 

 have failed to observe it if it occurred. 



R. sternosignata\s the most completely aquatic Indian frog with 

 which I am acquainted. It usually rests, at any rate in winter, 

 on the bottom, sometimes in as much as ten feet of water, and 

 rarely or never comes on dry land. Although somewhat sluggish 

 in very cold weather it does not hibernate but remains exposed 

 and alert even under ice. The secondary sexual characters of the 

 male are well developed in winter. The tadpoles, which reach a 

 very large size, as a rule spend the winter in the larval state, but 

 few were observed in November that seemed to be about to under- 

 go their final metamorphosis. N. A.] 



31. Rana phrynoides. 



Rana phrynoides, Boiileng.. Ann. and Mug. X.H. (S) XX, lyi/. p. 4l,v 



Vomerine teeth in small oblique groups commencing on a line 

 with and extending back beyond the level of the posterior borders 

 of the choanae. 



Head much broader than long, much depressed ; snout round- 

 ed, scarcely projecting beyond the mouth, as long as the eye; 

 canthus rostralis indistinct; loreal region very oblique, slightly 

 concave ; nostril nearer the eye than the end of the snout ; the 

 distance between the nostrils greater than the interorbital width , 

 which is less than that of the upper eyelid ; tympanum hiddeii or 

 very^ indistinct, ^ to § the diameter of the eye. 



Fingers obtuse, first longer than the second, third longer than 

 the snout; subarticular tubercles small, moderatelj' prominent. 



Hind limb short, the tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the 

 shoulder or the temple, the heels just meeting when the limbs are 

 folded at right angles to the body ; tibia 2\ times as long as broad ; 

 21 to 2i times in length from snout to vent, a little shorter than 

 the foot, much shorter than the fore limb. Toes short, with 

 obtuse tips, entirely webbed ; subarticular tubercles small, moder- 

 ately prominent; a feeble tarsal fold; inner metatarsal tubercle 

 narrow, feebly prominent, | the length of the inner toe ; no outer 

 tubercle. 



Upper parts granulate, with numerous small warts on the 

 back, some of which maj' be elongate ; these granules and warts 

 may bear black horny spinules ; a strong fold across the head be- 

 hind the eyes, and a very strong glandular fold from the eye to 

 the shoulder ; lower parts smooth. 



Dark olive above, uniform or with rather indistinct darker 

 spots ; lips with or without dark vertical bars ; dark cross-bars on 

 the limbs ver}- irregular, if present. Lower parts whitish, uniform, 

 or throat and hind limbs spotted or marbled with blackish. 



Males with internal vocal sacs ; during the breeding-season the 

 arms are remarkably thickened and black horny spines form two 

 patches on the breast and more crowded patches on the inner 

 metacarpal tubercle and on the upper side of the two inner fingers; 



