Batrachia.—Frogs.

This sub-order of the class Reptilia is well represented in Australia, and about forty or more species are described. Nearly the whole of these have been observed on the East coast, so that many novelties may be expected when the interior of the country and its western parts have become better known.

Frogs are found almost everywhere, in particular near water, though at times they are seen far away from it. They are all more or less nocturnal, and may be collected by the aid of a light after dark, or during the day-time by removing the loose baric of certain trees, turning over logs or stones, or examining any crevices in the soil which are likely to be damp. The paper-like bark of a species of Melaleuca (the tea-tree of the settlers) harbors many Hylæ or tree-frogs; they are also found on Grass-trees (Xanthorhoæ), on the dwarf-palms or Zamias, and on other plants which retain moisture, or are frequented by a variety of insects. When basking in the rays of the sun they generally assume a pale colour, the pupil is contracted and scarcely visible, and the frog is supposed to be asleep. How far this is correct may be judged from bringing an insect within reach of him—he will soon wake up and swallow it. Night is however the proper time to observe them; then they are most active, and generally of a darker colour. The variable hues which pass over some of the tree-frogs in particular are truly wonderful; they will change from white to dark-grey, from bright-green to almost black, from slate-colour to a rich green, and so on, till one is bewildered how to describe them.

Frogs are voracious feeders; they devour each other at every chance, as long as the victim is but a trifle smaller than the aggressor; and the elastic bag known as a frog's stomach often contains such a varied collection of things that it will almost appear incredible to non-observers. Nothing dead is accepted by frogs—all must be living food; and they generally watch till the intended prey moves before they make a spring. If the victim is a small insect, the tongue is thrown out as quick as thought, and the fly or beetle devoured, but when too large a sound grip is retained, and the arms are freely used to work the creature down into the stomach. Large beetles, spiders, centipedes, worms, butterflies, caterpillars, snails, crabs, prawns, small snakes, and lizards have been removed from the digesting apparatus of various frogs, and, it may sound incredible, the remains of young birds were found, and on one occasion a large mouse or page 58 perhaps a young rat.^* Tree-frogs are safe weather-prophets, and whenever they begin to chirp or croak rain is not far off. We have not yet heard of the remains of fossil frogs being found in Australia, and with regard to the frequent discoveries of "toads in solid rock" those statements must be received with caution. All the frogs presented to the Museum, and said to be so obtained, proved to be common Sydney species.

No tailed frogs, such as Newts, Salamanders, or Olms, inhabit this country.

The Batrachia salientia,^† the tailless section, is arranged as follows:—

A. Aglossa.

Frogs without a tongue.

Myobatrachus.

M. paradoxus. Swan River.

Above brownish-grey, beneath greyish; no teeth, except two large horizontal fangs, tympanum hidden; toes, 5, free.

B. Ophistioglossa.

Frogs with a tongue, adherent in front and more or less free behind.

a Ophistoglossa Oxydactyla.

Frogs with tapering cylindrical fingers and toes.

Ranidæ.

Frogs with webbed toes, cylindrical processes of the sacral vertebra and without paratoids.

Myxopihies.

M. fasciolatus. Queensland, Clarence River, and Illawarra Districts.

Dr. Albert Günther, F.R.S., informs us that the present species is the most Rana-like form hitherto discovered in Australia. This frog has rather a large head, and exceeds the common golden frog in size. Its legs are striped, the general colour grey, lighter below.

Crinia.

C. verrucosa. Australia.

C. georgiana. King George's Sound.

C. affinis. West coast.

C. tasmaniensis. Tasmania.

C. lævis. Tasmania.

C. fasciata. East and West coast.

These are small species, about an inch in length; they inhabit swamps and shallow pools, have all their toes free, and are destitute of large glands. Nearly all have a series of tubercles on the back, and are spotted with bright pink or orange on the inner side of the hind legs. A fly often deposits her eggs behind the tympanum, or on the back of these little frogs, and we have several times noticed single individuals infested with four such larvæ. When the larva has reached maturity it drops out and the frog dies. The result of the usual transformation of the insect is a small yellow fly, to which the late W. S. Macleay has given the name of Batrachyomia.

We have subsequently ascertained that the same parasite infests other Australian frogs.

Cystignathidæ.

Frogs with free toes, cylindrical processes of sacral vertebra, and without paratoids.

Lymnodynastes.

L. dorsalis. Australia generally.

On each calf a large gland; head broad; snout of moderate length and rounded; back with a distinct vertebral line. It would be useless to try and give the true color of any frog, because the changes are numerous, and cannot be defined.

L. Dumerilii. Adelaide.

This is an allied species, perhaps identical with L. dorsalis.

L. platycephalus. Adelaide.

Probably another variety of L. dorsalis.

L. Salminii. From the Clarence River to the far north.

This new species resembles L. Krefftii, and differs from it chiefly in its two or three elongate red stripes on the back.

L. Krefftii. South-east coast.

One of the most common frogs near Sydney; not so short as the previous three species, and without a distinct dorsal stripe. General colour, dark greenish-brown; lighter below.

L. tasmaniensis. Tasmania and South-east coast.

This frog is smaller than the other members of the genus, much spotted, of a lighter colour, and the male with a yellow vocal sack; some specimens have a distinct red vertebral line. Gland on the calf absent.

L. affinis. From the Clarence River.

Closely allied to L. tasmaniensis.

L. ornatus.

A northern frog, with slightly webbed toes, a marbled back, and without a gland on the leg.

Platyplectrum.

P. marmoratum. From Port Stephens to the far north.

This is one of the rarer species, discovered through the exertions of Mr. Wilcox, at the Clarence River. It is a rather stout species, with marbled back and whitish belly. The total length is eighteen lines. It resembles Cryptotis brevis at first sight.

Discoglossidæ.

Frogs with webbed toes, dilated sacral vertebra, and without paratoids.

Chiroleptes.

C. australis. From the Clarence River to the far north.

We find the Chiroleptes widely distributed, and sometimes of a considerable size. The head is very large, perhaps the largest of any Australian frog; the fingers are free, the toes partly webbed, the back covered with some flat warts. General colour, greenish grey, slightly marbled. The tympanum or ear-disk is distinct; the tongue elliptic, and slightly notched behind. We have taken many valuable insects, and once a half-grown rat from the stomach of one of them. Some very large specimens are in the Australian Museum collection.

C. alboguttatus. Cape York.

This is a northern species, which we have not yet obtained.

Asterophrydidæ.

Frogs with free toes, with the processes of the sacral vertebra dilated, and without paratoids.

Cryptotis.

C. brevis.

Head, large; body, rather stout, covered with numerous rather smooth tubercles; grey or brownish marbled above and below; fingers and toes tapering, free to the base; a pair of tooth-like processes at the symphysis of the lower jaw; total length, about 20 lines; inner side of legs pink-spotted.

Alytidæ.

Frogs with webbed toes, dilated processes of the sacral vertebra, and with paratoids.

Heleioporus.

H. albopunctatus. West and North Australia,

A short and stout form, with a broad and swollen head, large eyes, short extremities, four fingers quite free, and five toes which are half-webbed. Skin of the back, granular; of the belly, smooth. Vomerine teeth in a straight, in the middle interrupted line, between the inner nostrils. Above brownish with round white spots, or more or less marbled.

Uperoliidæ.

Toes and fingers free, sacral vertebra dilated, and with paratoids.

Uperoleia.

U. marmorata. New South Wales and West Australia.

This frog has, no doubt, a wide distribution, but nearly all our specimens came from the east coast and a few from the west. The back is more or less mottled or marbled, and there is always a bright orange spot on the inner side of the leg; general size to inch long.

Brachycephalidæ.

Small frogs with free toes, dilated sacral vertebra, and without paratoids.

Pseudophryne.

P. australis. East coast.

One of the smallest frogs known, with bright scarlet markings on the head and back; black and white marbled below. The scarlet spots turn white in spirits. Pound in moist localities under logs and stones; never in swamps or lagoons. A much larger variety occurs near Lake Macquarie of a bright red colour above, black and white marbled below.

P. Bibronii. East coast.

Coloration more uniform than in the previous species, with no broad marks but only a few yellow spots on the back.

Engystomatidæ.

Toad-like frogs with free toes, dilated sacral vertebra, and without paratoids.

Chelydobatrachus.

C. Gouldii. West Australia.

Head protruding globular, ear-disk distinct, extremities very short, no teeth, and rather elongate tongue; skin smooth with a few flat warts; fingers and toes free.

b. Ophisthoglossa Platydactyla.

Tips of fingers and toes dilated into a disk, ear perfectly developed.

Polypedatidæ.

Frogs with webbed toes, processes of the sacral vertebra cylindrical, and without paratoids.

Hyperolius.

H. bicolor. New South Wales and Queensland.

The Hyperolius is a very small frog, not exceeding an inch in length; the vomerine teeth are wanting; the colour above is a very pale green, inner side of legs bright orange, and white below.

Hylodidæ.

Toes free, sacral vertebra cylindrical, and without paratoids.

Platymantis.

P. vitianus. Fiji Islands, Solomon Group, perhaps North Australia.

We mention this species, because it is one of the few representatives of the Batrachian order found on the islands of the Pacific, A second species has been described by Dr Günther as P. platydactyla; the habitat is however not given. The first grows to a considerable size.

Hylidæ.

Toes webbed, processes of sacral vertebra dilated, and without paratoids.

Litoria.

First finger opposite to the other three. Fingers slightly webbed, toes half-webbed, ear-disk distinct.

L. Freycineti. Port Essington.

L. nasuta. North and East coast.

L. Wilcoxi. Clarence River.

These three allied species are distinguished by their elongate form and exceedingly long hind legs, which enable them to jump great distances. The colouration differs but slightly, generally brownish or red, more or less mottled or striped.

L. aurea.

This is the most common of all our frogs and the one which has the widest distribution. The popular name is "Blue-frog" or "Golden-frog," from the blue inner skin of the legs and the bronze or golden marks on the back. The ground tint is green and whitish below. A variety occurs in West Australia with marbled belly. The voice of the males is very loud, and when pinched they scream almost like a child.

L. latopalmata. Port Denison.

We believe this to be a well distributed species, which occurs at Adelaide, near Sydney, and probably in intermediate districts. The general colour is grey or reddish grey, with some black spots on the inner side of the legs.

Pelodryas.

P. cæruleus.

The largest of Australian frogs; bright green above, with a few white spots on the side; inhabits the whole of Australia and New Guinea. It is not found in Tasmania, This is the frog whose deep voice is always heard before rain. It lives about dwelling-houses, secreted under rafters or in post holes;—devours mice.

Hyla.

No finger opposite to the three others; toes completely webbed.

H. Ewingii. Australia and Tasmania.

A small frog, 1¼ or 1½ inch in length. Above greyish or reddish, more or less spotted with a darker band in the middle of the back. The Museum is in possession of specimens from almost every part of Australia, the west coast excepted.

H. Krefftii. East coast.

Rather rare in collections; colour when dark of a rich chestnut with fine black spots, and a vertebral band from between the eyes to the vent; inner sides of legs bright pink. When asleep or exposed to the sun this frog changes almost to dead white. We procure our specimens from a district covered with Zamias, and find them between the fronds of this dwarf palm; in winter under stones in moist rocky places, or under the bark of the tea-tree. The male has a loud shrill voice.

H. Verreauxii. East coast.

This tree-frog is very common almost everywhere on the eastern border; the colour is uniform greyish-brown, with a darker band from between the eyes to the vent. Males with a yellowish vocal sack. The shrill almost bird-like voice of this little frog is very remarkable after or during rain, and as deafening as the noise of the locusts. Verreaux's frog has been tamed on several occasions, and we remember one which lived for years in a shell on the mantel-piece of a hospitable homestead in the Hawkesbury District. He was in the habit of coming out at night, hopping about for a short distance, but generally preferred to wait for the flies which the children gathered for him. This specimen had grown to more than double its usual size. Another frog of the same kind, kept in a fern-case, always cried lustily when one of the larger species tried to swallow it, and being released would keep on its deliverer's shoulder for hours together.

H. jervisiensis.

Probably a variety of the former species.

H. rubella. North-east and North coast.

This is the smallest tree-frog known to us, and distinguished by a black throat.

H. phyllochroa. Australia, East and North-east coast.

A handsome green species, of small size. Common among ferns and in hot-houses.

H. infrafrenata. Cape York.

H. ingrofrenata. Cape York.

Both species have been lately described by Dr. Günther, F.R.S. The ground colour is probably green.

H. citropus. East coast.

This rare frog inhabits high trees and lays up in moist localities under stones during the cold season. It attains a considerable size, nearly as large as the golden frog. The colour varies; sometimes it is purple-grey with a wash of green on the back; at other times slate-grey or almost green; and young specimens taken during winter from under stones appear quite white. The inner side of the legs is pink. Very few examples are in collections; they occur near Sydney, at Kissing Point, Ryde, at Hunter's Hill, and other localities.

H. Peronii. Australia.

Pérons tree-frog is found principally on the east and north coast; it changes colour from light-grey with pale green spots to almost brown, the green spots still being distinct. The inner skin of the legs and the flanks are bright yellow and black.

This closes the list of Australian frogs.