102 



AXOUEA. 



RANID.E. 



BAN I DM. 



SCOTTISH FROG. 



Rana Scotica. Milii. 



It has been long observed by several naturalists that a spe- 

 cies of Frog exists in Scotland, distinct from the common 

 one, and it has generally been referred to the Rana esculenta, 

 or Edible Frog of the continent of Europe. Thus Mr. Don, 

 in his account of the Plants and Animals found in Forfar- 

 shire, mentions the Edible Frog as to be met with in the 

 lakes of that neighbourhood, although rather rare ; and both 

 Shaw and Pennant allude to it, the former as being " rare in 

 England,"" the latter simply incorporating it amongst his 

 British Reptiles, but without mentioning its locality ; and Dr. 

 Fleming merely observes that it is " not so common as the 

 preceding." In July 1833, Dr. Stark exhibited at the Zoo- 

 logical Society a skeleton of the Scottish species, the follow- 

 ing meagre account of which, occui-ring in the Proceedings of 

 the Society, is all that remains of that gentleman's observa- 

 tions. " Dr. Stark exhibited the skeleton of the Edible Frog, 

 Rana esculenta (Linn.), and stated that this species is found 

 in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, whence his specimen was 

 obtained. He pointed out some of the differences between 

 its osseous structure and that of the Common Frog, Rana 

 temp or aria Linn."" 



Thus one observer after another has gone on, each copying 

 the error of his predecessor, until jNIr. Jenyns, with his usual 

 accuracy and acumen, suggests the probability that the spe- 



