36 THE COMMON FROG. [chap. 



inches. As the extremities of the toes have dilated 

 discs for adhesion, showing the creature to be a true 

 Tree-frog, it is difficult to imagine that this immense 

 membrane of the toes can be for the purpose of 

 swimming only, and the account of the Chinaman 

 that it flew down from the tree becomes more 

 credible." 



The great group of Frogs and Toads, rich as it is 

 in genera and species, and widely as it is diffused 

 over the earth's surface, is one of singular uniformity 

 of structure. The forms most aberrant from our 

 type, the common Frog, have now been noticed, 

 except that perhaps the maximum respectively of 

 obesity and slenderness may be referred to. In the 

 former respect the Indian Toad, GlypJioglossus, may 

 serve as an example, and for the latter may be 

 selected Hyloi^ana jerboa. 



