SOME SOUTH INDIAN BATRACHIANS. 123 



the fronto-pariels may meet the upward extension of the parasphenoid 

 in front of the exit of the optic nerve. The foramen trigeminus is a large 

 vertically oval aperture and in some specimens of skulls, is constricted 

 slightly in the middle by the approximation of tongue-like processes of 

 the sphenethmoid and the ala magna. The ophthalmic branch of the fifth, 

 the sixth and the palatine branch of the seventh occupy the dorsal part of 

 the foramen, while through the lower half of the foramen emerge the 

 maxillo-mandibularis of the fifth and the hyo-mandibularis of the facial 

 nerves. The trochlear nerve has no separate exit and issues through the 

 foramen opticus. The canalls nervi vagi may bear three orifices, — though 

 the usual number is only two, — the internal foramen condyloidium for the 

 exit of the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves and two lateral ones for the 

 entry of the internal and the external carotid arteries. The maxillo — pala- 

 tine process is large and extending below the nasals, supports the cartila- 

 ginous epiphyses of the pterygoid and the transverse cartilaginous exten- 

 sion from the nasal capsule. 



(c). The individual abnormal variations. — 



i. The pelvic girdle. In the preparation 1 have forwarded to the 

 Indian Museum the ventral border of the ilium extends far beyond 

 the sacral diapophyses and before maceration, was continued over the 

 transverse processes of the eighth and the seventh vertebrte by means 

 of a flat cartilaginous bar. In accordance with this fact the diapophyses 

 of these vertebrte are flattened into wing-like expansions at the base, 

 thus deviating from the cylindrical shape. The dorsal blade of the 

 ilium is practically of the same depth throughout and it is the 

 terminal portion of this sharp border, which unites with the trans- 

 verse process of the sacral vertebra by a cartilaginous epiphyseal 

 connection. 



ii. The femur. The inner border of the right femur bears a strongly 

 developed tubercle or a process projecting in the living specimen 

 between the great adductor and internal vastus muscles. There is a 

 distinct ridge on the ventral surlace of the bone, running from the 

 head of the femur to more than half the distance. A similar but fain- 

 ter ridge is found on the dorsal face also. 



iii. The pectoral girdle. The inner end of the left corocoid is dis- 

 tinctly forked and a mass of epicorocoidal remains persisted in the 

 living condition, in front of the corocoidal suture. The future is imper- 

 fect on account of the deficiency of the left corocoid. The ventral 

 face of the bony style of the omosternum bears a strong carina-like 

 ridge throughout its length. 



Rana leptodactyla, Boul. 



1890. Rana leptodactyla, Boulenger, Faun. Brit. Ind. Rept. Batr., p. 448. 



Larva. 



1918. Rana leptodactyla, Annandale, Rec. Ind, Mus., Vol. XV., p. 19. 



I have had opportunities of witnessing the spawning of this frog in Coorg 

 and could rear the larvse only up to the two-legged stage. I am of opnnon 

 that the tadpoles described by Dr. Annandale in the paper cited, do^ not 

 belong to R. leptodactyla. I have myself examined the tadpoles No. 17698 

 contained in the Indian Museum collection, and I have in my own collec- 

 tion other tadpoles quite identical with this number, a few of these latter 

 tadpoles with me have developed the feet. Judging from this and other 

 characters I am led to infer that the examples described under leptodactyla 

 may prove to belong to one of the species of NyctibcetracJius. I am forwarding 



