South Africmi Lacertilia, Ophidia, and Batrachia. 
169 
Rana delalandi (Tschudi) ; B.M. Cat., 31. 
Francistown (C. Butler) ; Madibi (F. B. Parkinson) ; Vryburg (H. C. 
de Beer) ; Kraai Pan (S. D. Smith) ; Taungs (P. Court) ; Kimberley (G. 
Gain, J. H. Power) ; Karreeboom, Kimb. (Mrs. Mclntyre) ; Modder River 
(J. H. Power). 
This frog is a nocturnal species which ])uries itself in the ground during 
daytime. In Kimberley at night-time it may be seen under the lamps 
catching beetles and moths. When burrowing it descends vent down- 
wards, the body turning round and round as it shovels out the ground. 
When seized it has the objectionable habit of squirting water from the 
vent. Breeding may take place in the Kimberley neighbourhood any time 
between October and May, according to the rains ; the frogs breed in 
temporary muddy pools. The males congregate at night-time on the 
edge of the pool and raise a series of sharp calls somethmg like a quick 
ting, ting, ting, or tinga, tinga, tinga ; the inflated gular pouch is blackish. 
The female is seized by the male and held in a strong embrace, the breed- 
ing pair occupying a hole in the ground^ at the side of the pool until the 
eggs are expelled, which takes place before sunrise. The eggs are laid 
separately and are attached to stones or plants, or sometimes a number 
are laid in or near the same spot forming a straggling mass. The egg 
measures about 1*5 mm. in diameter and its capsule 3 mm. The following 
notes relate to a metamorphosis we observed. Eggs laid November 19th 
morning: embryo 2 mm. long on the 20th: on the 21st 4 mm. long, 
wriggling inside the capsule : left the capsule on the 22nd, and became 
attached to the sides of the trough, external gills visible, total length 
5*5 mm. : during the 22nd the external gills gradually disappeared : on 
the 23rd only a stump of the left gill now visible, the suckers had dis- 
appeared, total length 7 mm. : on November 24th the spiral gut distinct : 
on the 25th total length 10 mm., on the 27th 15 mm., the upper surfaces 
completely black, the abdomen spotted with gold: on December 5th total 
length 22 mm., the legs began to appear: on December 16th maximum 
length 34 mm. was reached, the head being 8*5 mm. broad : December 18th 
noticed movements of the fore-limbs, the legs measured 12 mm. : fore- 
limbs emerged on December 21st, usually the right limb first : on the 
23rd the tail fin had almost disappeared : on December 25th the young 
frogs, about 12 mm. long, left the water. 
Rana adspersa (Tschudi) ; B.M. Cat., 33. 
Moseley, Fauresmith (E. Heath) ; Mafeking (A. H. WaUis) ; Madibi 
(F. B. Parkinson) ; Wirsing (W. L. Whiley) ; Kimberley (J. H. Power). 
In the breeding season this species may often be seen in ponds and 
vleis, but at other times is of terrestrial habits, burrowing in the ground 
