i6o FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



3. Bufo regiilaris. Reuss. Mus. Senck. i., p. 60. 



This African Toad is also Arabian, found in the Sinaitic Peninsula 

 and up to the Judeean wilderness south of Beersheba. 



It extends throughout the whole of Africa, except Barbary. 



FAMILY, BOMBINATORID.-E. 

 4. Pdobates czdtripes. (Cuv. Regne Anim.) Tschudi. Batr., p. ^'i,. 



I have not seen this frog myself. It was discovered in the Lebanon 

 by Lataste, as stated by Bottger. Previously it has only been known 

 from the south of France, Spain, and Portugal. Probably further re- 

 search will show it to exist along the Mediterranean coasts. 



FAMILY, RANID.^J. 



5. Rana esadenta. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 357. Edible Frog. 



No one who has ever spent a night under a tent within reach of 

 water will question the amazing number of these frogs, deafening the 

 weary traveller through the long night. In no other country have I 

 seen the frog population so dense. The present appears to be the only 

 species inhabiting Palestine. One specimen, collected by the Dead Sea, 

 is covered with minute tubercles. 



The Edible Frog is found all over Europe, except the British Isles, 

 through all North Asia, including Japan, as far as the Himalayas ; and in 

 Africa it inhabits the Barbary coast and Egypt. The race inhabiting 

 China and Japan has been distinguished as a variety (y^.'C. japonicd). 



FAMILY, HYLID^. 



6. Hyla arborea. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 357.) Tree Frog. 



The Tree Frog is common in all parts of the country, being found 

 alike in the Jordan valley, on the plains, and in the hills. In the Ghor 

 and in the woods it sits on the foliage of trees, but on the treeless plains 

 it is equally common on the leaves of the artichoke and the great 

 umbellifers. 



