voice. 63 



taining the Batrachian fauna of a district during the 

 spring and early summer months; for although it 

 may not lead at once to the discovery of the performer, 

 owing to his most deceptive ventriloquial accomplish- 

 ments, the whistling argentine note of Alytes obstet- 

 ricans (often attributed by country people to the 

 salamander), the hoo-hoo of Bombinator pachypus, the 

 oonk-oonk of Bombinator igneus, the crech-creck-creck 

 of Pelodytes, the clock-clock-clock of Pelobatesfuscus, are 

 so characteristic as to be surely recognised by whom- 

 soever has heard them before. The sound uttered 

 by the breeding Bufo vulgaris may be compared to a 

 feeble oft-repeated bark ; that of Rana temporaria may 

 be rendered by grook, grook, and that of Rana agilis and 

 arvalis by co-co-co. But these are all comparatively 

 feeble monotonous sounds. If we turn to the loud 

 croakers, Rana esculenta, Hijla arborea, and Bufo 

 calamita, all three of which are provided with external 

 vocal sacs, we find a more varied performance, which 

 when produced by a large number of individuals, as is 

 usually the case, is simply deafening, and audible 

 miles away. The croaking of Rana esculenta has been 

 admirably rendered by Aristophanes in his chorus of 

 frogs, Bpe/cEK£/c££ /coct£ /coci£. Hi/la and Bufo calamita are 

 more difficult to imitate, their song consisting of an 

 extremely rapid succession of highly sonorous vibrat- 

 ing notes, bra or era. 



These loud vocalists are in the habit of joining in 

 choruses, ceasing suddenly at the approach of the 

 listener. But they can easily be induced to resume 

 the concert by an imitation of their croak either by 

 the human voice or by strokes on a metal object. In 

 confinement they can also be enticed to croak b} r 

 beino- rubbed on the back. 



Most frogs when seized by a snake or other enemy 

 utter a shrill cry. That of Pelobates fnscus is most 

 startling; and specimens of that species, when per- 

 sistently teased, can be aroused to a fit of anger, 

 accompanied by loud cries, lasting for several minutes. 



