1910.] MR. T. M. S. ENGLISH OX TASMAXIAX FROGS. 629 



2. LiMXODrXASTES DORSALIS. (Plate LI. fig. 3.) 



Of this species, Avlncli is widely disti-ibuted over the mainlnnd 

 of Australia, and is probably common in mo.st ports of Tasnianin, 

 I only secured one adult specimen. This I found at the end of a 

 burrow in sand under a large stone. It "svas in a lather dry part 

 of some Eucalyptus "bush," but not far from a small pond. 



If I am right in supposing that a loud booming note, which 

 can be heard considerably more than a quarter of a mile away, is 

 due to this species, it is common in the neighbourhood of Hobnrt, 

 Launceston, Fingai (in the east of the island), and on the noi'th- 

 west coast. 



The only other frogs to which this note could be reasonably 

 attributed would appear to be Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and 

 llyla aurea ; but the former does not seem to occur on the north- 

 west coast, and the latter is not found near Hobart. 



This is by far the most noticeable frog-music in Tasmania, and 

 when, as is usually the case, a number of frogs are uplifting their 

 voices together, the effect is that of a somewhat barbaric banjo 

 performance. These concei'ts take place in or around some faii-ly 

 deep pond, and, however quietly one approaches, according to my 

 own experience, invariably cease before it is possible to exactly 

 mark down the performers. I have never been able to notice 

 any disturbance in the water, and believe that the frogs must be 

 singing at the entrances of their buiTows, and that these are well 

 concealed under roots, stones, etc. 



This frog, on the north-west coast, retired for the winter of 1902 

 about the middle of April, and was in evidence again towards the 

 end of August. 



At Uiverstone it was spawning towards the end of October, the 

 egg-m:xsses resembling lumps of froth about 6 inches, or luther 

 less, across. On the 7th of IS^ovember some of these had fairly 

 lai'ge tadpoles in and nnder them. These tadpoles were very dark 

 in colour, with violet reflections. 



Earlier in the year (September) I had found some very large 

 tadpoles of this species (3 inches long), with hind legs just forming, 

 and at the same time some quite small ones. On the lOtli of 

 November some of these were showing signs of front legs, and by 

 December they had become frogs. 



3. Crixia sigxifera. (Plate LI. figs, 4, 5.) 



This active and variable little frog was very common wherever 

 I w^ent in Tasmania, and its cricket-like chii'p was to l)e lieard at 

 almost any time of the year ; so that it does not seem to hibernate. 

 It is decidedly aquatic, diving to the bottom at the slightest alarm 

 and remaining motionless. 



No kind of water seems to come amiss to it, from a i'a|)id 

 mountain stream to a muddy puddle. As a I'ule, however, it 

 prefers water which is fairly shallow, and so is often oliligcd to 

 become terrestrial during the heat of suuimer, wIilmi all tho 



