AMPHIBIA. 
By BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A., C.M.Z.S., Professor of Biology m 
the Melbo7irne University. 
(Plates 13 , 14 , 15 ). 
Introduction. 
Owins; to the climatic conditions of Central Australia considerable interest 
attaches to its Amphibian fauna. 
Up to the present time very few amphibians have been described from the 
central regions of the continent, and though there may be a greater number of 
species in the more northern and tropical parts, those which are found in the 
Finke River basin and in the sandy deserts to the south-west of this as far as 
Ayer’s Rock and Mount Olga seem to be few in number. 
It is of course quite possible that, though we searched carefully for them, 
several other species do exist; but if so they are probably very local in distribution, 
or else, what is quite likely, are only to be met svith at certain seasons.* 
The Horn Expedition passed through the country in the winter succeeding a 
rather more than average wet season. Excepting in the immediate vicinity of water- 
holes everything was perfectly dry and not favourable to a search for amphibians, 
which, if they are to exist, must hide themselves in di’y, secluded spots. Wherever 
there were water-holes, there w'e found frogs in fair numbers; but the most 
striking featui’e was that these frogs in and round about the water-holes almost all 
belonged to t\vo species, viz., Hyla rubella and Lijnnodyjiasies orjiahis. Twice only 
we saw specimens of the young.forms of other species found in water-holes. On 
one occasion in the Opossum Creek, to the south of Charlotte Waters, the tadpoles 
of Chiroleptes platycefhalus were found, and on another in a small water-hole at 
Ayer’s Rock, right amidst the sandy deserts to the south of L<ake Amadeus, a few 
tadpoles of Heleioporus pictiis were found. Of the two first mentioned, Hyla 
rubella was never found away from water-holes. 
On the occasion of a subsequent visit to Chaidotte Waters, immediately after 
* Mr. .T. J. Fletcher has remarked upon this in the case of certain frogs such as S'otaden hennettii. For most 
valnahle information regarding the habits of Australian frogs Mr. Fletcher's series of papers in the Proc. Linn. 
Soc. N.S.W. should he consulted. I have to thank Mr. Fletcher for much valnahle advice and assistance during 
the writing of this report. 
