622 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE [NoV. 17, 



and the muciferous crypts, so distinct in B. igneus, are hardly distin- 

 gnishable in the tadpoles of this species, of which I obtained a 

 number in the Duchy of Luxemburg. However, it is very probable 

 that such a difference would not prove constant if tested on more 

 extensive material. 



The largest specimen collected by me measures 37 millim. : body 

 17, width of body 14 ; tail 20, depth of tail 10. 



Descriptions or figures are given by Lataste (Actes Soc. Linn. 

 Bord. XXX. 1876, p. 278, pi. ix. figs. 10-12), Heron Royer and Van 

 Bambeke (Arch, de Biol. ix. 1889, p. 282, pi. xxi. fig. 6), and 

 Bedriaga (Ball. Soc. Nat. Mosc. 1889, p. 573). The decussating 

 pigmentary lines appear to have been first noticed by Leydig 

 (N. Acta Ac. Leop.-Carol. xxxiv. 1868, p. 10.5, pi. ii. fig. xix., and 

 An. Batr. D. Faun. p. 56) ; and Piiiiger (Arch. f. Ges. Phys. xxxi, 

 1883, p. 139) has dwelt on the importance of this character for 

 distinguishing this tadpole from that of Ahjtes. The classical work 

 of Gotte (Entwickekmgsgeschichte der Unke, Leipzig, 1875, with 

 atlas) is devoted to the embryology of this species. 



This species, which has long been confounded with the preceding, 

 inhabits France, Belgium, Switzerland, Western and Central Germany, 

 Austria, Roumania, Italy, Dalmatia, Greece, and Turkey. It breeds 

 from the latter half of May to the end of June, and the young leave 

 the water in August or September. 



18. Alytes obstetricans, Laur. (Plate XLVII. figs. 6, 7.) 



Length of body once and one third to once and a half its width, 

 two thirds to one half the length of the tail. Nostrils nearly half- 

 way between the end of the snout and the eyes. Eyes on the upper 

 surface of the body, the distance between them about twice as great 

 as that between the nostrils, and equal to or slightly greater than 

 the width of the mouth. Spiraculum in the mid-ventral line, a 

 little nearer the anterior than the posterior extremity of the body. 

 Anal opening median, very much larger than the spiraculum. Tail 

 twice and two thirds to thrice as long as deep, ending in an obtuse 

 point ; the upper crest convex, usually a little deeper than the lower, 

 and extending but very slightly upon the back; the depth of the 

 muscular portion, at its base, about half the total depth. 



Beak white, vrith a broad black margin. Lip entirely surrounded 

 by a series of papillae. Labial teeth in ^ series, occupying nearly 

 the whole width of the inner surface of tlie lip, all continuous, or 

 the third lower narrowly broken up in the middle ; the first upper 

 and the first lower series composed of one or two rows of teeth, the 

 others composed of two or three rows. 



Lines of crypts usually very indistinct, all that can be distinguished 

 being the usual lines from the end of the snout between the nostrils, 

 bordering the eyes above, behind, and below, and forming a hoop on 

 each side of the upper lip, a line beginning at a considerable distance 

 behind the eye along each side of the back to the upper border of 

 the muscular part of the tail, and another very short line close to 



