66 



BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY. 



are not specifically identical. They may be separated by the smaller tympanum 

 of R. varians, and by the less extent of web between the toes of R. moluccana, as 

 well as other characters regarding the size and position of choanae and vomerine 



teeth groups. The difference be- 



o 



tween these characters is made 

 clear in the figures. 



The Gane specimen was taken 

 in the deep woods without any 

 fresh-water near by. In this in- 

 dividual the vomerine teeth are 

 rather more separated, and are 

 placed in a slightly more anterior 

 position than is the case with any 

 one of the Ternatian series. The 

 interorbital space is sUghtly wider 

 in the example from Halmahera 

 than in the others. It is also much 

 more brilliantly colored, the legs 

 being heavily barred above, and 

 very brilliant yellow below. This 

 coloration may have relation to the 

 nuptial season, or may be due to 

 life in the woods. The lot from 

 Ternate were all taken from a well, 

 the water in which stood almost 

 level with the surface, and from 

 which the frogs could have easily 

 escaped. They seemed to be hv- 

 ing a strictly aquatic life. They were taken a month later than the Gane frog, in 

 late February, instead of January. It is not safe to draw any conclusions from 

 so unevenly distributed material ; but this series points strongly to a frog upon 

 Ternate which is not certainly identical with those on Halmahera, and is certainly 

 not identical with Rana varians of Palawan. Nevertheless, the origin of these 

 frogs is all the same, and the close relationship serves to emphasize the existence 

 of a connection from the Phillippines through Celebes to the Halmahera group. 

 It will be very instructive to learn whether a frog of this type occurs on the Sula 

 Islands, Obi, or Buru. 



Rana varians Boulengcr, Topotype. 

 a, profile of head; b, palmar view of foot; c, gape. 



Rana moluccana Boettger, Topotype. 

 d, profile of head; e, palmar view of foot; f, gape. 



