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Show 906 MR. S. S. FLOWER ON THE REPTILES AND [Dec. 1, Cantor gives Penang, Singapore, and the Malay Peninsula as localities, and says " although it inhabits Singapore it appears not to occur in the valleys of Penang, but to affect the hills, at an elevation of more than 2000 ft." Stoliczka mentions it as being " not uncommon in Penang." I found this species very common both in Penang and Singapore, but, contrary to Cantor's experience, I found it at Penang at almost the sea-level (20 ft.), though it was certainly more numerous on the hills. It is a cheerful little frog of most graceful build. It comes out from its hiding-places shortly before sunset, and remains abroad all night; the males are easily found as they sit on shrubs or trees or on the edges of the rainwater-butts under the verandahs of the houses, and from time to time utter a single rather musical short croak. In March and April they can be found both by day and night in copula in ponds. Cantor mentions the power of changing its colours this species possesses. It changes both its colour and markings very rapidly and frequently, but dark bands across the legs can always be more or less distinguished; the lower parts are some shade or other of buff, but the principal variations of the upper parts are as follows :- (i.) pale bronze, uniform ; (ii.) pale bronze, with four longitudinal dark brown or black lines ; (iii.) a bright yellowish-bronze, almost orange, uniform; (iv.) reddish-brown, almost chocolate, mottled with darker; (v.) pale brownish-green or olive, with irregular dark spots; (vi.) yellowish-green, mottled with darker or brown. The Rhacophorus mentioned by Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1873, p. 112) as a separate species, Polypedates quadrlllneatus, from Penang, is not even a true variety, as the dark lines appear conspicuously and disappear entirely in the same individual. If killed with or without the lines visible they remain so in spirit. In Singapore at different times I noticed many young frogs which had just left the w ater all of which had the dark lines visible; these disappear as the animal grows, only to reappear temporarily in the adult. The females are considerably larger than the males ; the largest male I caught was 48 m m . from snout to vent, and the largest female 68 m m . from snout to vent. Hab. Sikhim, Assam, Burma, Southern China, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, Philippines. Tadpole. In January, February, March, and April, 1896, I found the tadpoles of this species in several small ponds and in rainwater-butts about Singapore; and was able to collect a large series for the British Museum. Bescrlptlon of the Tadpole. Length of body once and a half its width, half the length of the |
