1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. 145 



slenderness of the feet ; in the first the difference of the distance 

 between the anus and the metatarsal tubercle, and that of the body 

 is -§-th more of the length of the latter, in the second specimen it 

 is nearly one-sixth ; but in both specimens the toes are proportion- 

 ately shorter and more fully webbed ; the fifth toe has the cutane- 

 ous fringe as distinct as in typical gracilis. The colour of the fresh 

 specimens was a light brown with green spots, perfectly identical in 

 distribution with those of gracilis, with which also the tubercles on 

 the back entirely agree ; these two specimens have no dorsal streak. 



When viewed independently from other specimens, nothing would 

 be easier than to regayd the above noted Penang small variety 

 as a distinct species, for, in addition to the obtuse form of the 

 snout, and the greater length of the legs noticed in the Andaman 

 variety, we have in this a complete webbing of the toes. However, 

 there is in any case, at present no sufficient reason for doing this. 

 For I have already noticed that in young specimens of typical 

 gracilis the toes appear stronger webbed than in old ones, and as the 

 . two specimens from the Penang hill are evidently young ones, they 

 may shew this development accidentally more, than perhaps other 

 specimens in the same locality would do. Until this has been 

 sufficiently ascertained, the other more constant characters consisting 

 in the form of the body, and also the very characteristic coloration 

 must be regarded as more important than the peculiarity of a 

 known variable character. 



In all these varieties quoted above the constancy in coloration is 

 most marked. I do not regard the more or less pointed or obtuse 

 snout as a character of great importance, for it varies considerably 

 in specimens of one and the same locality in different stages of age, 

 and apparently also in the sexes. Neither would the reference to 

 the greater or lesser length of the hind limbs appear to be very 

 important, but that the webbing of the toes should vary so consi- 

 derably as noted above, is really very remarkable ; and I would 

 certainly have separated the Andaman and the small Penang form 

 as distinct species — on account of shorter snout, longer limbs and 

 stronger webbing of the toes, — had I not obtained from the Nico- 

 bars, situated geographically between both, a form which has the 

 short snout of the two last varieties, but the proportionately short 



