Part 12

In those species in which the embrace is of long duration the limbs of the male, usually the fore limbs (pleurodele newt, Ecaudata), rarely the hind limbs (a few American and European newts), according to the mode of amplexation, acquire a greater development, and are often armed with temporary horny excrescences which drop off after the pairing season. These asperities usually form brush-like patches on the inner side of one or more of the digits, but may extend over the inner surface of the limbs and on the breast and chin; the use of them on these parts is sufficiently obvious, but they are sometimes also present, without apparent function, on various parts of the foot, as in _Discoglossus, Bombinator_, and _Pelodytes_. In some species of the South American frogs of the genus _Leptodactylus_ the breast and hands are armed with very large spines, which inflict deep wounds on the female held in embrace.

In most of the Caudata, the eggs are deposited singly in the axils of water plants or on leaves which the female folds over the egg with her hind limbs. The eggs are also deposited singly in some of the lower Ecaudata. In many of the Ecaudata, and in a few of the Caudata and Apoda, the eggs are laid in strings or bands which are twined round aquatic plants or carried by the parent; whilst in other Ecaudata they form large masses which either float on the surface of the water or sink to the bottom.

A few batrachians retain the ova within the oviducts until the young have undergone part or the whole of the metamorphosis. Viviparous parturition is known among the Caudata (_Salamandra, Spelerpes fuscus_), and the Apoda (_Dermophis thomensis, Typhlonectes compressicauda_); also in a little toad (_Pseudophryne vivipara_) recently discovered in German East Africa (41).

_Development and Metamorphosis._--In a great number of batrachians, including most of the European species, the egg is small and the food-yolk is in insufficient quantity to form an external appendage of the embryo. But in a few European and North American species, and in a great many inhabitants of the tropics, the egg is large and a considerable portion of it persists for a long time as a yolk-sac. Although the segmentation is always complete, it is very irregular in these types, some of which make a distinct approach to the meroblastic egg.

With the exception of a number of forms in which the whole development takes place within the egg or in the body of the mother, batrachians undergo metamorphoses, the young passing through a free-swimming, gill-breathing period of considerable duration, during which their appearance, structure, and often their _regime_, are essentially different from those of the mature form. Even the fossil Stegocephalia underwent metamorphosis, as we know from various larval remains first described as _Branchiosaurus_. They are less marked or more gradual in the Apoda and Caudata than in Ecaudata, in which the stage known as tadpole is very unlike the frog or toad into which it rather suddenly passes (see TADPOLE). In the Caudata, external gills (three on each side) persist until the close of the metamorphosis, whilst in the Apoda and Ecaudata they exist only during the earlier periods, being afterwards replaced by internal gills.

Many cases are known in which the young batrachian enters the world in the perfect condition, as in the black salamander of the Alps (_Salamandra atra_), the cave salamander (_Spelerpes fuscus_), the caecinan _Typhlonectes_, and a number of frogs, such as _Pipa, Rhinoderma, Hylodes_, some _Nototrema, Rana opisthodon_, &c. A fairly complete bibliographical index to these cases and the most remarkable instances of parental care in tailless batrachians will be found in the interesting articles by Lilian V. Sampson (42), and by G. Brandes and W. Schoenichen (43). It will suffice to indicate here in a synoptic form, as was done by the present writer many years ago, when our knowledge of these wonders of batrachian life was far less advanced than it is now, the principal modes of protection which are resorted to:--

1. Protection by means of nests or nurseries.

A. In enclosures in the water.--_Hylafaber_. B. In nests in holes near the water.--_Rhacophorus, Leptodactylus_. C. In nests overhanging the water.--_Rhacophorus, Chiromantis, Phyllpmedusa_. D. On trees or in moss away from the water.--_Rana opisthodon, Hylodes, Hylelia platycephala_. E. In a gelatinous bag in the water.--_Phrynixalus, Salamandrella_.

2. Direct nursing by the parents.

A. Tadpoles transported from one place to another.--_Dendrebates, Phyllobates, Sooglossus_. B. Eggs protected by the parents who coil themselves round or "sit" on them.--_Mantophryne, Desmognathus, Autodax, Plethodon, Cryptobranchus, Amphiuma, Ichthyophis, Hypogeophis, Siphonops_. C. Eggs carried by the parents. (a) Round the legs, by the male.--_Alytes_. (b) On the back, by the female. (1) Exposed.--_Hyla goeldii, H. evansii, Ceratohyla_. (2) In cell-like pouches.--_Pipa_. (3) In a common pouch.--_Nototrema, Amphignathodon_. (c) On the belly. (1) Exposed, by the female.--_Rhacophorus reticulatus_. (2) In a pouch (the produced vocal sac), by the male.--_Rhinoderma_. (d) In the mouth, by the female.--_Hylambates brevirostris_.

_Geographical Distribution._--If a division of the world according to its batrachian faunae were to be attempted, it would differ very considerably from that which would answer for the principal groups of reptiles, the lizards especially. We should have four great realms:--(1) Europe and Northern and Temperate Asia, Africa north of the Sahara (palaearctic region) and North and Central America (nearctic region); (2) Africa and South-Eastern Asia (Ethiopian and Indian region); (3) South America (neotropical region); and (4) Australia (Australian region). The first would be characterized by the Caudata, which are almost confined to it (although a few species penetrate into the Indian and neotropical regions), the _Discoglossidae_, mostly Europaeo-Asiatic, but one genus in California, and the numerous _Pelobatidae_; the second by the presence of Apoda, the prevalence of firmisternal Ecaudata and the absence of _Hylidae_; the third by the presence of Apoda, the prevalence of arciferous Ecaudata and the scarcity of _Ranidae_, the fourth by the prevalence of arciferous Ecaudata and the absence of _Ranidae_, as well as by the absence of either Caudata or Apoda. Madagascar might almost stand as a fifth division of the world, characterized by the total absence of Caudata, Apoda, and arciferous Ecaudata. But the close relation of its very rich frog-fauna to that of the Ethiopian and Indian regions speaks against attaching too great importance to these negative features. It may be noted here that no two parts of the world differ so considerably in their Ecaudata as do Madagascar and Australia, the former having only Firmisternia, the latter only Arcifera. Although there is much similarity between the Apoda of Africa and of South America, one genus being even common to both parts of the world, the frogs are extremely different, apart from the numerous representatives of the widely distributed genus _Bufo_. It may be said that, on the whole, the distribution of the batrachians agrees to some extent with that of fresh-water fishes, except for the much less marked affinity between South America and Africa, although even among the former we have the striking example of the distribution of the very natural group of the aglossal batrachians, represented by _Pipa_ in South America and by _Xenopus_ and _Hymenochirus_ in Africa.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--(1) On the use of the names _Batrachia_ and _Amphibia_, cf. E.D. Cope, _Geol. Mag._ (3) ii., 1885, p. 575; G. Baur, _Science_ (2), vi., 1897, pp. 170, 372; B.G. Wilder, t.c. p. 295; T Gill, t.c. p. 446; O.P. Hay, t.c. p. 773; T. Gill, _Science_ (2), xx., 1900, p. 730; L. Steineger, op. cit. xx., 1904, p. 924. (2) E. Fraas, "Die Labyrinthodonten der schwabischen Trias," _Palaeontogr._ xxxvi., 1889, p. 1. (3) _Proc. Zool. Soc._, 1904, ii. p. 170. (4) E.D. Cope, "Synopsis of the Extinct Batrachia of North America," _Proc. Ac. Philad._, 1868, p. 208. (5) "Researches on the Structure, Organization and Classification of the Fossil Reptilia, vii" _Phil. Trans._ clxxxiii. (B), 1892, p. 311. (6) _Cambridge Natural History_, viii. (1901). (7) "Die Urvierfussler (Eotetrapoda) des sachsischen Rotliegenden," _Allgem. verstandl. naturh. Abh._, Berlin, 1891, No. 15; "Die Entwicklungsgeschichte von Branchiosaurus amblystomus," _Zeitschr. deutsch. geol. Ges._, 1886, p. 576. (8) C. Emery, "Uber die Beziehungen des Chiropterygium zum Ichthyopterygium," _Zool. Anz._ x., 1887, p. 185; E.D. Cope, "On the Phylogeny of the Vertebrata," _Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc._ xxx., 1892, p. 280; H.B. Pollard, "On the Anatomy and Phylogenetic Position of _Polypterus_," _Zool. Jahrb. Anat._ v., 1892, p. 414; G. Baur, "The Stegocephali: a Phylogenetic Study," _Anat. Anz._ xi., 1896, p. 657; L. Dollo, "Sur le phylogenie des dipneustes," _Mem. soc. belge geol._ ix., 1895, p. 79; T. Gill, "On the Derivation of the Pectoral Member in Terrestrial Vertebrates," _Rep. Brit. Ass._, 1897, p. 697. (9) E.D. Cope, "The Origin of the Mammalia," _Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc._ xxii., 1884, p. 43; cf. Discussion on Origin of Mammals, _Proc. Intern. Congr. Zool._, Cambridge, 1898; also H. Gadow, "The Origin of the _Mammalia_," _Z. f. Morphol._ iv., 1902, p. 345; and R. Broom, _Rep. Brit. Ass._, 1905, p. 437. (10) A. Fritsch, _Fauna der Gaskohle und der Kalksleine der Permformation Bohmens_, vols. i. and ii (Prague, 1879-1885, 4to); H. Credner, "Die Stegocephalen aus dem Rotliegenden des Plauenschen Grundes bei Dresden," _Zeitschr. deutsch. geol. Ges._, 1881-1894; J.W. Dawson, "On the Results of Recent Explorations of Erect Trees containing Animal Remains in the Coal Formation of Nova Scotia," _Phil. Trans._ clxxiii., 1882, p. 621; H.B. Geinitz and J.V. Deichmuller, "Die Saurier der unteren Dyas von Sachsen," _Palaeontogr._ xxix., 1882, p. 1; A. Gaudry, _Les Enchainements du monde animal dans les temps geologiques, fossiles primaires_ (Paris, 1883, 8vo), p. 251; E.D. Cope, "The Batrachia of the Permian Period of North America," _Amer. Nat._ xviii., 1884, p. 26; E. Fraas, "Die Labyrinthodonten der schwabischen Trias," _Palaeontogr._ xxxvi., 1889, p. 1; L.v. Ammon, _Die permischen Amphibien der Rheinpfalz_ (Munich, 1889-1891, 4to); R. Lydekker, _Catalogue of the Fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum_, part iv. (London, 1890, 8vo); E. Fraas, _Die schwabischen Trias-Saurier nach dem Material der k. Naturalien-Sammlung in Stuttgart zusammengestellt_ (Stuttgart, 1896, 4to); O. Jaekel, "Die Organization von _Archegosaurus_," _Zeitschr. deutsch. geol. Ges_. xlviii., 1896, p. 505; F. Broili, "Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis von _Eryops megacephalus_," _Palaeontogr_. xlvi., 1899, p. 61. (11) "Amphibian Footprints from the Devonian," _Amer. Journ. Sci_. ii., 1896, p. 374. (12) "Decouverte du plus ancien amphibien connu ... dans le famennien superieur de Modave," _Bull. soc. beige geol_. xv., 1888, p. cxx, (13) "A Batrachian Armadillo," _Amer. Nat_. xxix., 1895, p. 998. (14) C. Gegenbaur, _Untersuchungen zur vergleichenden Anatomie der Wirbelsaule bei Amphibien und Reptilien_ (Leipzig, 1862, 4to); H. Gadow, "On the Evolution of the Vertebral Column of Amphibia and Amniota," _Phil. Trans_. clxxxvii. (B), 1896, p. 1. (15) R. Wiedersheim, _Die Anatomie der Gymnophionen_ (Jena, 1879, 4to); W. Peters, "Uber die Einteilung der Caecilien," _Mon. Berl. Ac_., 1879, p. 924; G.A. Boulenger, _Catalogue of Batrachia Gradientia s. Caudata and Batrachia Apoda in the Collection of the British Museum_ (London, 1882, 8vo), and "A Synopsis of the Genera and Species of Apodal Batrachians," _P. Z. S_., 1895, p. 401. (16) "On the Structure and Affinities of the _Amphiumidae_" _Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc._ xxiii., 1886, p. 442. (17) _Ergebnisse naturwissenschaftlicher Forschungen auf Ceylon_, ii. (Wiesbaden, 1887-1890, 4to), (18) "The Chondrocranium of the Ichthyopsida," _Stud. Biol. Lab. Tufts Coll_. No. 5, 1898, p. 147. (19) G.A. Boulenger, _Catalogue, &c._, 1882. (20) H.H. Wilder, "Lungenlose Salamandriden," _Anat. Anz_. ix., 1894, p. 216; L. Camerano, "Ricerche anatomofisiologiche intorno ai Salamandridi normalmente apneumoni," _Atti Acc. Torin_. xxix., 1894, p. 705, and xxxi., 1896, p. 512; H.H. Wilder, "Lungless Salamanders," _Anat. Anz_. xii., 1896, p. 182; E. Loennberg, "Notes on Tailed Batrachians without Lungs," _Zool. Anz_. xix., 1896, p. 33. (21) "Note sur le batracien de Bernissart," _Bull. mus. belg_. iii., 1884, p. 85. (22) G.A. Boulenger, _Catalogue of Batrachia Salientia s. Ecaudata in the Collection of the British Museum_ (London, 1882, 8vo). (23) "On the Development of the Vertebral Column in _Pipa_ and _Xenopus_," _Anat. Anz_. xiii., 1898, p. 359. (24) G.A. Boulenger, "On _Hymenochirus_, a New Type of Aglossal Batrachians," _Ann. and Mag. N. H._ (7), iv., 1899, p. 122. (25) L.M. Vidal, _Mem. Ac. Barcelona_ (3), iv., 1902, No. 18, pl. iv. (26) W. Wolterstorff, "Uber fossile Frosche, insbesondere Palaeobatrachus," _Jahresb. Nat. Ver. Magdeb_., 1885 and 1886. (27) W. Peters, "Uber die Entwickelung eines Batrachiers. _Hylodes martinicensis_, ohne Metamorphose," _Mon. Berl. Ac_., 1876, p. 709; A. Kappler, "Die Tierwelt im hollandischen Guiana," _Das Ausland_, 1885, p. 358; G.A. Boulenger, "Reptiles and Batrachians of the Solomon Islands," _Trans. Zool. Soc_. xii., 1886, p. 51; H. v. Ihering, "On the Oviposition of _Phyllomedusa iheringii_," _Ann. and Mag. N.H._ (5), xvii., 1886, p. 461; H.H. Smith, "On Oviposition and Nursing in the Batrachian genus _Dendrobates_," _Amer. Nat_. xxi., 1887, p. 307; G.B. Howes, "Notes on the Gular Brood-pouch of _Rhinoderma darwini_," _P.Z.S_., 1888, p. 231; W.J. Holland, "Arboreal Tadpoles," _Amer. Nat_. xxiii., 1889, p. 383; E.A. Goeldi, "Contribution to the Knowledge of the Breeding Habits of some Tree-frogs of the Serra dos Orgaos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," _P.Z.S_., 1895. p. 89; G.A. Boulenger, "On the Nursing Habits of two South American Frogs," _P.Z.S_., 1895, p. 209; A. Brauer, "Ein neuer Fall von Brutpflege bei Froschen," _Zool. Jahrb. Syst_. xi., 1898, p. 89; S. Ikeda, "Notes on the Breeding Habit and Development of _Rhacophorus schlegelii_," _Annot. Zool. Japan_, i., 1898, p. 113; G. Brandes, "Larven zweier Nototrema-Arten," _Verh. deutsch. zool. Ges_., 1899, p. 288; L. v. Mehely, "Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Engystomatiden von Neu-Guinea," _Termes. Fuzetek, Budapest_, xxiv., 1901, p. 216; G.A. Boulenger, "_Ceratohyla bubalus_ carrying eggs on its back," _P.Z.S_., 1903, ii. p. 115; _Idem_. "Description of a new Tree-frog of the genus _Hyla_, from British Guiana, carrying eggs on the back," _op. cit_., 1904, ii. p. 106; H.S. Ferguson, "Travancore Batrachians," _J. Bombay N.H. Soc_. xv., 1904, p. 499. (28) _Geol. Mag_. iv., ii., 1895, p. 83. (29) "Das Hyobranchial-Skelett der Anura," _Morph. Arb_. iii., 1894, p. 399. (30) "On the Structure and Development of the Hyobranchial Skeleton of the Parsley Frog," _P.Z.S_., 1897, p. 577. (31) W.G. Ridewood, "On the Hyobrachial Skeleton and Larynx of _Hymenochirus_," _J. Linn. Soc_. xxviii., 1899, p. 454. (32) _Morphol. Jahrb_. xxiii., 1895, p. 1. (33) G.B. Howes and A.M. Davies, _P.Z.S_., 1888, p. 495. (34) G.A. Boulenger, "The Poisonous Secretion of Batrachians," _Nat. Science_, i., 1892, p. 185; F. Gidon, _Venins multiples et toxicite humorale chez les batraciens_ (Paris, 1897, 8vo). (35) _Arch. Ges. Physiol_. li., 1892, p. 455. (36) G.A. Boulenger, _P.Z.S_., 1900, p. 433, and 1901, ii. p. 709; H. Gadow, _Anat. Anz_. xviii., 1900, p. 588. (37) G.A. Boulenger, "On the Presence of Pterygoid Teeth in a Tailless Batrachian, with remarks on the Localization of Teeth on the Palate," _P.Z.S_., 1890, p. 664. (38) _Morphol. Jahrb_. xiii., 1887, p. 119. (39) _P.Z.S_., 1888, p. 122. (40) G.A. Boulenger, _Tailless Batrachians of Europe_ (1897), p. 75. (41) G. Tornier, "Pseudophryne vivipara, ein lebendig gebarender Frosch," _Sitzb. Ak. Ber_. xxxix., 1905, p. 855. (42) "Unusual Modes of Breeding and Development among _Anura_," _Amer. Nat_. xxxiv., 1900, p. 405. (43) "Brutpflege der schwanzlosen Batrachier," _Abh. Nat. Ges_. Halle, xxii., 1901, p. 395. (G. A. B.)

BATRACHOMYOMACHIA (Gr. [Greek: Batrachos], "frog," [Greek: mus], "mouse," and [Greek: machae], "battle"), the "Battle of Frogs and Mice," a comic epic or parody on the _Iliad_, definitely attributed to Homer by the Romans, but according to Plutarch (_De Herodoti Malignitate_, 43) the work of Pigres of Halicarnassus, the brother (or son) of Artemisia, queen of Caria and ally of Xerxes. Some modern scholars, however, assign it to an anonymous poet of the time of Alexander the Great.

Edition by A. Ludwich (1896).

BATTA, an Anglo-Indian military term, probably derived from the Canarese _bhatta_ (rice in the husk), meaning a special allowance made to officers, soldiers, or other public servants in the field.

BATTAGLIA, a town of Venetia, Italy, in the province of Padua, 11 m. S.S.W. by rail from Padua. Pop. (1901) 4456. It lies at the edge of the volcanic Euganean Hills, and is noted for its warm saline springs and natural vapour grotto. A fine palace was erected in the Palladian style in the 17th century by Marchese Benedetto Selvatico-Estense, then owner of the springs.

BATTAKHIN, African "Arabs" of Semitic stock. They occupy the banks of the Blue Nile near Khartum, and it was against them that General Gordon fought most of his battles near the town. Their sheikh, El Obeid, routed Gordon's troops on the 4th of September 1884, a defeat which led to the close investment of Khartum. In the 18th century James Bruce described them as "a thieving, pilfering lot."

BATTALION, a unit of military organization consisting of four or more companies of infantry. The term is used in nearly every army, and is derived through Fr. from It. _battaglione_, Med. Lat. _battalia_ (see BATTLE). "Battalion" in the 16th and 17th centuries implied a unit of infantry forming part of the line of battle, but at first meant an unusually large _battalia_ or a single large body of men formed of several _battalias_. In the British regular service the infantry battalion is commanded by a lieut.-colonel, who is assisted by an adjutant, and consists at war strength of about 1000 bayonets in eight companies. Engineers, train, certain kinds of artillery, and more rarely cavalry are also organized in battalions in some countries.

BATTAMBANG, or BATTAMBONG (locally _Phralabong_), the chief town of the north-western division of Cambodia, formerly capital of Monton Kmer, i.e. "The Cambodian Division," one of the eastern provinces of Siam, now included in the French protectorate of Cambodia. It is situated in 103 deg. 6' E., 13 deg. 6' N., in the midst of a fertile plain and on the river Sang Ke, which flows eastwards and falls into the Tonle or Tale Sap, the great lake of Cambodia. The town is a collection of bamboo houses of no importance, but there is a walled enceinte of some historical interest. Trade is small and is carried on by Chinese settlers, chiefly overland with Bangkok, but to a small extent also by water with Saigon. The population is about 5000, two-thirds Cambodian and the remainder Chinese and Siamese. The language is Cambodian.

Battambang was taken by the Siamese when they overran the kingdom of Cambodia towards the end of the 18th century, and was recognized by the French as belonging to Siam when the frontier of Cambodia was adjusted by treaty in 1867-1872. In another treaty in 1893, Siam bound herself to maintain no armed forces there other than police, but this arrangement was annulled by the treaty of 1904, by which Battambang was definitely admitted to lie within the French sphere of influence. Under a further treaty in March 1907 (see SIAM), the district of Battambang was finally ceded to the French.

BATTANNI, or BHITANI, a small tribe on the Waziri border of the North-West Frontier Province of India. The Battannis hold the hills on the borders of Tank and Bannu in the Dera Ismail Khan district, from the Gabar mountain on the north to the Gomal valley on the south. They are only 3000 fighting men strong, and are generally regarded as the jackals of the Waziris. Their chief importance arises from the fact that no raids can be carried into British districts by the Mahsud Waziris without passing through Battanni territory. A small British expedition against the Battannis was led by Lt.-Col. Rynd in 1880. Under the excitement caused by the preaching of a fanatical mullah the Mahsud Waziris had attacked the town of Gomal. The Battannis failed to supply information as to their movements, and gave them a passage through their lands. The British troops accordingly stormed the Hinis Tangi defile in face of opposition, and burned the village of Jandola.

BATTAS (Dutch _Battaks_), the inhabitants of the formerly independent Batta country, in the central highlands of Sumatra, now for the most part subjugated to the Dutch government. The still independent area extends from 98 deg.-99 deg. 35' E., and 2 deg.-3 deg. 25' S. North-east of Toba Lake dwell the Timor Battas, and west of it the Pakpak, but on its north (in the mountains which border on the east coast residency) the Karo Battas form a special group, which, by its dialects and ethnological character, appears to be allied to the Gajus and Allas occupying the interior of Achin. The origin of the Battas is doubtful. It is not known whether they were settled in Sumatra before the Hindu period. Their language contains words of Sanskrit origin and others referable to Javanese, Malay and Tagal influence. Their domain has been doubtless much curtailed, and their absorption into the Achin and Malay population seems to have been long going on. The Battas are undoubtedly of Malayan stock, and by most authorities are affiliated to that Indonesian pre-Malayan race which peopled the Indian Archipelago, expelling the aboriginal negritos, and in turn themselves submitting to the civilized Malays. In many points the Battas are physically quite different from the Malay type. The average height of the men is 5 ft. 4 in.; of the women 4 ft. 8 in. In general build they are rather thickset, with broad shoulders and fairly muscular limbs. The colour of the skin ranges from dark brown to a yellowish tint, the darkness apparently quite independent of climatic influences or distinction of race. The skull is rather oval than round. In marked contrast to the Malay type are the large, black, long-shaped eyes, beneath heavy, black or dark brown eyebrows. The cheek-bones are somewhat prominent, but less so than among the Malays. The Battas are dirty in their dress and dwellings and eat any kind of food, though they live chiefly on rice. They are remarkable as a people who in many ways are cultured and possess a written language of their own, and yet are cannibals. The more civilized of them around Lake Toba are good agriculturists and stock-breeders, and understand iron-smelting. They weave and dye cotton, make jewellery and krisses which are often of exquisite workmanship, bake pottery, and build picturesque chalet-like houses of two storeys. They have an organized government, hereditary chiefs, popular assemblies, and a written civil and penal code. There is even an antiquated postal system, the letter-boxes being the hollow tree trunks at crossroads. Yet in spite of this comparative culture the Battas have long been notorious for the most revolting forms of cannibalism. (See _Memoirs of the Life, &c., of Sir T.S. Raffles_, 1830.)

The Battas are the only lettered people of the Indian Archipelago who are not Mahommedans. Their religion is mainly confined to a belief in evil spirits; but they recognize three gods, a Creator, a Preserver and a Destroyer, a trinity suggestive of Hindu influence.