THE SYSTEMATIC VALUE OF RANA CHTNENSIS OSBECK 



75 



In both species we find the praehallux joined to the tibiale by an 

 intercalated bone, the tibiale being formed by the following principal 

 elements: tar sale pr&hallucis, centrale and tar sale I. 



Under the second and third meta-tarsal bones we find the tarsale 

 II. and ///.; the fourth and fifth meta-tarsal bones are joined to the 

 fibulare by the so-called ligamentum tarsi suppleus. 



Measurements of skeleton in mm. 



Rana chinensis Osb. 



Rana ridibunda Pall. 



1. Head narrow, long and i. Head broad, short and 

 very pointed at the end. i tip of snout bluntly rounded. 



2. Inter-orbital spacej 2. Inter-orbital space 

 equal to half the breadth equal to one third the 



of upper eye-lid. 



3. Heels never meet when 

 hind limbs are bent at right 

 angles to axis of body. 



4. Bending the hind 

 limbs forward along the 

 side of body the tibio-tarsal 

 joint reaches the posterior 

 corner of eye or can pro- 

 long itself beyond to space 

 between the anterior corner 

 and nostrils. 



breadth of upper eye-lid. 



3. Heels always overlap 

 when hind limbs are bent 

 at right angles to axis of 

 body. 



4. Bending the hind limbs 

 forward along side of body, 

 the tibio-tarsal joint reaches 

 with the female, the back 

 corner of eye, with male the 

 end of snout. 



Rana esculenta Linn. 



1. Head comparately nar- 

 row, tip of snout ending in 

 blunt point. 



2. Inter-orbital space 

 equal to half or frequently 

 to three quarters the breadth 

 of upper eye-lid. 



3. Heels never meet when 

 hind limbs are bent at right 

 angles to axis of body. 



4. Bending the hind 

 limbs forward along side 

 of body the tibio-tarsal 

 joint reaches, on the female 

 the space between the tym- 

 panum and posterior corner 

 of eye, on the male, at the 

 utmost space between the 

 anterior corner and nostrils. 



