PREFACE. 



In the preface to the two volumes of this series, describing 

 the Reptiles of the indo-australian Archipelago, I have given 

 a short history about the work on the Vertebrates of Dutch 

 East-India. 



It began with the publication of a work on the fishes of 

 the Archipelago of which four volumes have already appeared. 



With the valuable cooperation of Dr. J. C. KONINGSBERGER, 

 while director of 's Lands Plantentuin at Buitenzorg, Java, 

 and later on with that of his successor Dr. W. M. DoCTERS 

 VAN Leeuwen, the original plan got successively a wider 

 scope and the preparation of a series of handbooks of the 

 vertebrate fauna of the Archipelago was recommended. 



In 191 2 the aid of the government was gained for the 

 publication of the two quoted volumes about the Reptiles, 

 which were issued in 1915 and 1917. 



It was then allowed to presume, that the governmental aid 

 would also be bestowed upon a volume describing the indo- 

 australian Amphibia, which was under preparation by Prof. 

 P. N. VAN Kampen. However, in 192 1, when the manuscript 

 of his work was finished, the economical situation was so 

 totally changed, that there was no chance to get the finan- 

 cial support from the government, necessary for issuing the 

 volume. 



This financial dilemna was solved by the „Zoologisch Insu- 

 lindefonds", by the „Gresshoff-Rumphius-fonds" and by the 

 „Leidsch Universiteitsfonds", who were ready to support the 

 finances. 



All those who are interested in the fauna of this region 

 are therefore indebted to the councils of these institutions, 

 and it is a pleasing duty of thanking them for their valuable 

 help so cordially given. 



The Amphibia of the indo-australian Archipelago described 

 in the present volume enumerate 254 species. 



In 1907 Prof. VAN Kampen published a list of the Amphibia 

 of the same region which contained 194 species. The greatest 



