PREFACE. 



The present volume completes the Second Edition of the Catalogue 

 of Batrachians, and if compared with the first edition (prepared by 

 my predecessor nearly thirty years ago) will afford another proof 

 that the collection in the British Museum has held pace with 

 the progress made by science in the intervening period. 



Like the first volume of this edition, which was published at the 

 beginning of this year, it has been prepared by Mr. G. A. Boulenger, 

 who, in the meantime, has entered the permanent service of the 

 Trustees. 



Our knowledge of the various forms of Tailed and Limbless 

 Batrachians may be considered to be as complete as that of any 

 other order of the Animal Kingdom : possibly Central Asia may 

 yield a certain number of additional species of Newts, and Tropical 

 Africa some hitherto unknown Ccecilias ; but we can hardly anti- 

 cipate that such new discoverierwill be fundamentally distinct from 

 the forms with which we are acquainted at present, or lead to 

 modifications of the general results embodied in the summary of the 

 geographical distribution of the entire class of Batrachians which 

 accompanies this volume. 



ALBEKT GUNTHER, 



Keeper of the Department of Zoology. 



British Museum, 

 November 26, 1882. 



