902 MB. STANLEY S. PLOVVBfi. Olf tfiB [l^OV. 14, 



near Alor Star in Kedah, and also near Jeuan in the same State 

 caught a particularly handsome little frog which is referred 

 provisionally to M. ornata, but which differs considerably in 

 appearance from Bangkok individuals. 



Hahits. This very active, elegant frog is to be found hiding 

 during the day under stones, logs, &c. in the crevices of the mud 

 in dried-up pools and among dead leaves. Once I found two in 

 an ants' nest, situated in the ground under some brickwork. 

 It comes out at dusk and seems to remain abroad all night. At 

 night in December and January these frogs may be heard croaking 

 in Bangkok ; considering their small size they produce an aston- 

 ishing volume of sound, the noise seems to me indescribable on 

 paper. 



Colour (in life). Usual Bangkok specimens. — Above reddish 

 olive, with a large dark brown mark on the back beginning between 

 the eyes, then narrowing and then widening as it extends to the 

 hind part of the body ; a broad darker brown line along the side 

 of the head and body ; limbs with irregular dark brown cross-bars ; 

 a dark horseshoe mark round the vent. Lower surfaces white, 

 extensively spotted with brown ou the throat and chest. Iris : 

 golden ring round pupil, remainder golden speckled with brouze. 



The Penang specimen was above yellow marked with rich dark 

 brown, and below pale immaculate buff. 



Size. The largest Siamese specimens noted measured — snout to 

 vent, c? 22 mm., $ 23 mm. Penang specimen (sex not recorded), 

 snout to vent 24 mm. 



Distribution. Kashmir, India, Ceylon, Burma, Southern China, 

 Cambodia, Siam, Malay Peninsula. 



Tadpoles. 



At the end of December 1896 I found tadpoles of this species 

 in a small pond in Bangkok ; they were numerous all through 

 January and February 1897, and the yoang frogs were leaving the 

 water at the beginning of March. On revisiting the same poud 

 the following winter (1897-98) I failed to see a single specimen. 



Description. Length of body once and three quarters its width, 

 a little more than half the length of the tail. Nostrils placed 

 close together on the upper surface of the head, nearer the end of 

 the snout thau the eye. Eyes on the sides of the body, visible 

 from above and from below, their distance apart is about five 

 times the distance between the nostrils, and also much greater 

 than the width of the mouth. On the back between the eyes are 

 a pair of shields, oval in outline, placed side by side ; they are not 

 conspicuous in the living tadpole, but in specimens shrunk in 

 spirit they become so. Spiraculum median, on lower surface of 

 body, opening into a transparent sheath of skin, in front of the 

 anus. Anus median, opening in the lower edge of the subcaudal 

 crest. Tail about four times as long as deep, ending in a very 

 finely produced point ; upper crest not extending on to the back ; 



