3. Some observations on the Oral Apparatus of the tadpoles 
of Megalophrys parva Boulenger. 
By SunpEeR Lat Hora, M.Sc. 
Assistant Superintendent, Zoological Survey of India. 
(Read at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Indian Science Congress and 
municated with the permission of the Director, Zoological Survey 
of nal ) 
During a recent visit to the Khasi Hills I Stolen a large 
number of specimens of the tadpoles of the genus Me galo- 
phrys in a small stream at Dumpep. They were F foand in 
-clear and fairly rapid-flowing water among weeds. The tad- 
poles were brought alive to the bungalow and were kept under 
observation for four to five hours. During the short time at 
my disposal, I could not make extensive observations on the 
probable function of the float and, moreover, I was then 
quite ignorant of the literature on the subject. On coming 
ack to Caleutta and going through the literature, I found 
that my observations differed to a certain extent from those 
previously recorded and, I therefore, take this opportunity 
to place them on recor 
I am indebted to Dr. N. Annendale for the identification 
of my specimens and for the great help and valuable sugges- 
tions that he gave to me in the preparation of this note. 
It was observed that the funnel only expanded when the 
tadpole came to the surface. In_ this sia the surface 
to float even with the funnel folded. The tadpoles under water 
were seen either lying flat at the bottom, neh obliquely 
in-a vertical position by resting their tail at the bottom or 
was always slightly curved to secure equilibrium and stability. 
By blowing over a tadpole floating under water, I was able to 
carry it round and round the bowl without disturbing it. 
was also observed that the tadpole could not lie at 

1Gadow, Amphibia and Reptiles (Cambridge Nat. Hist.), p. 59 
(1901). 
