The Taprobanian (3.1888)

THE TAPROBANIAN.

A DRAVIDIAN JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL STUDIES.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

The Engystomatidj; of Ceylon.
This family, intermediate between the frogs and
toads, presents singular interest to the student of
the geographical distribution of animals. Dr. Bou-
lenger, the latest reviewer, divides it into 18 genera,

with 50 species.
We may arrange these as follows :—
Southern America (and Mexico, &c.)... 21
Malay Islands, China, and Burma. 10
India and Ceylon .. 9
Southern Africa . 7
Madagascar . 1
New Guinea. 2

50
It will, however, be even more useful to group
these into four Sections :

Tropical American . 21
South African . 8
Malagash . 1
Indo-Malasian . 19

The student will be struck by the restricted range
of this family, and by its divergence into genera,
rather than into species.
The species as yet recorded for India are :—
Melanobatrachus indicus, Bed.
Microhyla rubra, Jerd.
„ ornata, D and B;
Callula obscura, Gthr.
,, pulchra, Gray.
„ olivacea, Gthr.
„ triangularis, Gthr.
Cacopus systoma, Schneid.
,, globulosus, Gthr.
From the island of Ceylon as yet only four
species are known, namely :—
Microhyla rubra, Jerd.
Callula obscura, Gthr.
„ pulchra, Gray.
Cacopus systoma, Schneid.
It is remarkable that Ceylon has not hitherto
yielded a single endemic form, while of the four,
two species range from the Indo-Chinese province
to that of Southern India and Ceylon, Microhyla
rubra having been found in Assam, Madras, and

Ceylon, while the allied M. ornata ranges from
Southern China, through Assam to Madras, and
Callula pulchra is recorded for Southern China,
Burma, Siam, Penang, Ceylon, and the Cauveri
district of Southern India.
In Ceylon the following localities are known to
me :—
Mycrohyla rubra;
Dambul, Trincomalai, Hambantota.
Callula obscura;
Gampola, Pundul Oya (5000 ft.).
Callula pulchra ;
Colombo, Kandy.
Cacopus systoma, Schneid.
Putlam, Batticaloa.
It is thus apparent that the whole of Ceylon is
suitable for the existence of one or other species of
this family, and it is indeed strange we do not find
greater specific divergence.
Near Dambula Mr. A. P. Green found M. rubra
lurking under dried cow-dung, near tanks. Mr. Haly
states that C. pulchra “ is quite a common frog
round Colombo, but as it lives in old trees it escapes
notice.” C. obscura has been found under bark and
moss, and by Mr. E. E. Green, inside a rotten log.
C. systoma burrows in the plain at Putlam, and on
the shore of the lagoon at Batticaloa.
Editor.
On Budhist writings in Sinhalese.
The first class of works may be divided into three
groups,—doctrinal, philological, and historical.
The exact limits of each are not clearly defined,
but are often confused. There is, however, sufficient
distinction to enable any student, with a little expe-
rience, to refer a book to its right section, and
therefore they will be useful in arranging a library
or catalogue.
Doctrinal.—This section embraces a large series
of translations of sutras and other portions of the
Tri-pitaka, other than Jatakas, which I have classed
apart. It also includes commentaries and discourses
upon them, and religious or doctrinal treatises.
Philological.—This section should perhaps scarcely
be separated, but is useful to receive the various