TAILLESS BATRACHIANS 237 



over Spain and Portugal, penetrating into a small corner of 

 France, east of the Pyrenees ; it is also found in the islands 

 of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Malta. In Africa its 

 range extends all over Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It 

 inhabits the mountain regions as well as the plains, having 

 been recorded in Corsica at an altitude of 2,500 feet. 

 This frog greatly resembles the Common Frog, both in 

 shape and size. The snout is, however, rather more 

 prominent, and the tympanum is very often concealed 

 under the skin. The moderately large eye is provided 

 with round or triangular pupil. The upper parts are 

 perfectly smooth. 



The coloration varies considerably, and may be pale 

 brown, grey, pale olive, yellowish, or 

 reddish above, uniform and with dark, 

 often light-edged, spots ; a dark streak ^^^ 23.— Eggs of 

 is constant on each side of the head ; the the Painted Frog, 

 limbs are transversely barred with darker ; ^"^-^'"' "" '"^"''' 

 a pale vertebral streak is sometimes present. 



The Painted Frog, a very active batrachian, is usually 

 found in the water, frequenting small brackish pools as 

 well as running mountain streams, and, unlike the majority 

 of frogs and toads, feeds under water. The breeding 

 season extends, in North Africa, from January to the end 

 of September, the female frequently spawning on as many 

 as three occasions in the course of the year. The eggs, 

 which are remarkable for their small size, are produced 

 singly, and adhere to the bottom of the pond ; they are 

 seldom attached to weeds. The larvae transform rapidly, 

 leaving the water in from one to two months. 



Bombinator is represented by four species ; two are 

 European ; one occurs in North-Eastern Asia, from Man- 



