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Show 1896.] BATRACHIANS OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 911 25. BUFO PENANGENSIS, Stol. Ansonia penangensis, Stol. J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 152, pl. ix. fig. 4. Bufo penangensis, Boul. Cat. Batr. Sal. p. 287. This small Toad was discovered by Stoliczka at Penang: he obtained two specimens near the great waterfall, and two in a narrow gorge about halfway up the Penang Hill. Hab. Malay Peninsula and Borneo. 26. BUFO MELANOSTICTUS, Schn. (Plate XLIV. fig. 3.) Bufo melanostictus, Cantor, p. 142 ; Boul. Cat. Batr. Sal. p. 306 ; Boul." Faun. Brit. Inch, Rept. p. 505 (fig. p. 506). Cantor (p. 143) says " in the Malayan countries this species swarms in valleys and hills." Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 156) mentions this species from Penang, Province Wellesley, Malacca, and Singapore. In the British Museum there are specimens from Penang, Perak, and Singapore. I found this species in abundance at Kulim, Kedah, at Taiping, Perak, in Penang, from within a few yards of the sea to the top of the Hill (2500 ft.), and also in Singapore. This Toad is very common in the Straits Settlements, hiding by day under stones or logs, in crevices, holes, etc., coming out shortly before sunset, and remaining abroad till dawn ; it may be met wdth on the roads and in the grass hopping or crawling about in search of food-ants, bees, etc. It often utters a rather feeble, plaintive cry when handled for the first time. It can change its colour from a light yellowish-brown to dark browm. Malayan specimens have not so distinct black marks on the ridges of the head and black stars on the tubercles of the back as I have noticed in specimens from the North-West Provinces of India. The males in the breeding-season sometimes have the chin coloured bright yellow. The spawn, which resembles that of Bufo vulgaris in England, may be seen in March and April in ponds, in long strings twined about the water-weeds. In April the ponds at Tanglin were swarming with tadpoles, and their margins with minute toads. The tadpoles are very like those of Bufo vulgaris both in form, size, colour, and structure of mouth. The largest individual of Bufo melanostictus I found was in Penang, and measured 115 m m . from snout to vent. Hab. India, Ceylon, Sikhim, Himalayas (up to 10,000 ft.), Southern China, Camboja, Siam, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Description of the Tadpole. (Plate XLIV. fig. 3.) Length of body about once and a half its width and about three quarters the length of the tail. Nostril much nearer the eyes than the end of the snout. Eyes on the upper surface of the body; the distance between them about twice as great as tbe distance between the nostrils, and about equal to the width of the mouth. Spiraculum on the left side, directed backwards, nearer tbe anus than the end of the snout, visible from above and from PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1896, No. LIX. 59 |