Miscellaneous. 357 



the vicinity of the masses of spawn referred to by Dr. Giinther. I 

 never saw a species of the small Ixalus near Colombo, and, indeed, 

 never at a lower elevation than the forests of the interior ; it cannot, 

 therefore, be spawn of one of these, as suggested by Dr. Giinther. 

 7th. The most common tree-frog in Ceylon, the Polypedates macu- 

 latus, is also not uncommon in Colombo, where the natives have a 

 dread of it, as they believe that if it leaps on children they become 

 consumptive and attenuated like these tree-frogs. These frogs are 

 often found attached to the backs of doors, aud leap upon the bodies 

 of people who attempt to open and shut the doors, I feel pretty 

 certain that the masses of spawn referred to are the produce of this 

 tree-frog ; and I shall thank any one for a fresh specimen of the 

 spawn, or for information as to where it can be seen. 



The other tree-frog with the large spawn attached to its abdomen, 

 and which is most correctly figured in the plate accompanying Dr. 

 GUnther's paper, was sent to me some years ago by Mr. Perera, then 

 conductor on the Poojagodde estate in the Ramboda district, and 

 from a high elevation. I considered this frog to be identical with 

 one described lately by Dr. Giinther as Polypedates nanus ; and in a 

 small bottle full of these frogs in my possession I see some large grains 

 of spawn identical with those sent by me to Dr. Giinther. I know 

 the Polijpi'dates retkidatus as a very distinct one sent to me some 

 years ago by Mr. J. Catto from Illagolla ; but of course there can 

 be no disputing Dr. Giinther's authority as to the proper names of 

 frogs first described by himself. Respecting the frogs which I sup- 

 posed to be P. reticidafus, Mr. J. Catto wrote to me on the 7th of 

 October, 1872 : — " These frogs do not go into the water, but sit upon 

 wet stones or on damp walls, and on the edges of bath-tubs, and 

 jump upon you when you go near and disturb them, squirting a 

 disagreeable liquid at the same time. Nasty brutes ! I wish I 

 could send you every one about the place."' 



With reference to Dr. Giinther's remark as to whether the speci- 

 men with the spawn attached to it Avas caught in the water or out 

 of it, I am sorry I cannot say ; but some correspondent may be for- 

 tunate enough to clear up this matter. I need not say how grateful 

 I shall feel for specimens of frogs from all parts of Ceylon. These 

 are best preserved in arrack, as they shrivel up and get hard in 

 strong spirits. 



There was a very interesting paper by the Eev. Dr. Boake some 

 years ago on one of our freshwater fishes, which was described as 

 securing its spawn inside its capacious throat when there was any 

 danger to be appi'ehended. I do not know if this one belongs to 

 the genus of fishes referred to by Dr. Giinther. 



Colombo, 11th July, 1876. ' W. Ferguson, F.L.S. 



Eemarls on Fossils from the Ashley P hosphate-Beds. 



Prof. Leidy observed that the so-called phosphate-beds of Ashley 

 river, South Carolina, were remarkable for the singular admixture 

 of multitudes of fossils of different ages, from the early Tertiary 

 period inclusive down to the present epoch. The phosphatic nodules, 



Ann. tC- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. xviii. 24 



