1900.] ON THE BATRACHIANS ATVD REPTILES OE THE GABOON. 433 



P. lapradei, a difference which Bridge observed in two specimens 

 of Polypterus and which he attributed to great range of variation. 



This paper will be published in full in the Society's ' Trans- 

 actions.' 



The following papers were read : — 



1. A List of the Batrachians and Reptiles of the Gaboon 

 (French Congo), with Descriptions of new Genera and 

 Species. By G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 



[Received March 20, 1900.] 

 (Plates XXVIL-XXXII.) 



Mr. Gr. L. Bates, who has been stationed for some time on 

 the Benito River, north of the Gaboon River, between 20 and 

 30 miles iuland from the coast, has been so kind as to collect 

 Batrachians and Reptiles for the British Museum, and so lucky 

 as to discover, especially among the former, a number of new or 

 interesting forms, on some of which I have already reported 1 . 

 "Whilst describing the new forms of which an account is given in 

 this paper, it appeared to me useful to compile a complete list of 

 all the species on record from the Gaboon district — viz., the part 

 of West Africa situated between Camaroons and Loango, in the 

 French Congo 2 . Such a stock-taking seemed to me particularly 

 useful with reference to the work on the distribution of species in 

 the Congo basin, with which I am now engaged. I must observe, 

 however, that I am convinced that the list will have to be increased 

 by the addition of a number of widely distributed species which are 

 known both north and south of the Gaboon district, and which 

 will, no doubt, be found when more extensive collections are made ; 

 but I have introduced the names of such species only of which I 

 have seen examples from the district, or which have been recorded 

 on reliable authority. 



Only five contributions dealing specially with the Batrachians 

 and Reptiles of the Gaboon district have been published so far : — 



Dumebil, A. — " Note sur les Reptiles du Gabon." Rev. et Mag. 

 de Zool. 1856, pp. 369-377, 417-424, 460-470, 553-562, 

 pis. xx. & xxi. — The new species described in this paper have 

 been redescribed and mostly figured in the same author's 

 "Reptiles de l'Afrique occiden tale," Arch, du Mus. x. 1859, 

 pp. 137-240, pis. xiii.-xviii. 



1 Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) iii. 1899, pp. 274, 276, and iv. 1899, p. 122. 



2 The term Gaboon is here taken in the old sense. I do not know on what 

 authority the Gold Ooast is included in the Gaboon Country by Giinther, 

 P.Z.S. 1899, pp. 716 & 721. 



