308 J. S. BUDGETT. 



yellow, or sometimes with large yellow blotches on the upper 

 surface. Beneath it is black, with scarlet blotches ; the palms 

 of the hands and the soles of the feet are scarlet. 



The variety found at Concepcion had on the under surface 

 scarlet blotches extending to the throat, while the variety 

 found at Waikthlatingniayalwa had the scarlet confined to the 

 lower part of the abdomen. 



This form, too, had yellow blotches irregularly arranged on 

 the back, while the Paraguayan form had small yellow spots 

 more regularly arranged. 



On the journey between these two regions I twice met with 

 large numbers of small black frogs which seem to be of this 

 species. They were characterised by their smallness, and by 

 the absence of either yellow or red markings. 



At the breeding season the males and females have a call 

 which consists of two clear musical "pings," followed by a 

 long descending "trill" like that of our British greenfinch. 

 The eggs are laid in separate globules of jelly, which float 

 freely on the surface of the water, and are heavily pigmented. 



This frog, which at ordinary times is the slowest and most 

 bold of frogs, is now active and excessively shy. Swimming 

 rapidly between the blades of grass it climbs a tuft, and, 

 dilating its throat, repeats its call, but if in the least dis- 

 turbed it is suddenly gone. This change of habit is very 

 remarkable. 



The spawn is found in quite temporary pools in grassy 

 ground ; the development is excessively rapid. Segmentation 

 beginning at 10 a.m., they were hatched and wriggling about 

 by 7 a.m. the following day. They probably are washed down 

 into deeper pools by the retreating waters, and for this purpose 

 the manner in which the eggs are laid, i.e. in separate globules 

 of jelly, seems especially suited. 



The native Lengua name is "Pithpaya." 



The eggs and larvae do not seem to differ in any great degree 

 from those of Rana. There is, however, a very large yolk- 

 plug, which remains evident after the closure of the neural 

 groove, 



