{ 
12 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVIII, 
Dr. Annandale’s! suggestion that the funnel is used for 
crawling over vertical rocks is quite feasable. The muscular 
energy for this action, as he points out, is provided by the 
powerful tail, while the role of the oral apparatus is quite 
passive in the performance of this function. But the study 
of the funnel shows that that cannot be its primary function. 
Dr. Annandale informs me that the observations. he 
made on the habits of these tadpoles in 1906, have recently 
been confirmed by him by keeping the tadpoles in an aqua- 
rium. 
As regards the function of respiration. | am not able to 
express a definite opinion. The fact that the animal rises to 
the surface and expands its funnel for a short time when 
in contact with air, favours the view that the funnel is pos- 
sibly used as a secondary respiratory organ. Tadpoles of 
expands when they come to the surface, when, according to 
him, the purpose of the oral apparatus “ is to act as a funnel, 
and to furnish as large an area as possible for catching any 
minute particles floating upon the water, and which are drawn 
towards it by the strong sucking action of the creature.” The 
same explanation is offered by Dr. Malcolm Smith for the 
tadpoles of Megalophrys montana 1 have not made any 
observations on similar lines and am, therefore, unable to 
discuss this view. 
Tagree with Dr. Annandale?’ that the histological struc- 
ture of the funnel does not reveal any vascular tis:ue of blood 
vessels and in the absence of such a tissue it seems wrong to 
assign to it the function of an accessory respiratory organ. It 
may, however, be pointed out that fishes which live in moun- 
tain torrents have their gill-openings greatly reduced and 
have in all probability their paired fins modified for the func- 
tion of respiration. 
! Annandale, Journ. As. Soc. Ben 3 
2J as, ; gal (N.S.) IT, p. 292 (1906). 
2 Malcolm Smith, J. : 
AVS At (1916), ourn. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam II, p- 36, pl. 1, figs 
$ Annandale, Fascic. Malay., Zool. II, p. 275 (1903). 



