240 BATRACHIA. 



Rana esculenta. 



Bana viridis, Dum. et Bib. vol. viii. p. 343. 



Eana esculenta, Schinz, Europ. Faun. vol. ii. p. 67 ; Buon. Faun. Ital. 

 (figured). 



Description. — Toes cylindrical, slightly swollen at the tips, 

 tubercles under the joints large ; webs of the toes free at 

 their margin, slightly notched, not reaching quite to the 

 extremity of the toe ; fourth toe on the hind-foot one-third 

 longer than the third and fifth, the two last each with a 

 tubercle at their root ; nostrils half-way between the comer 

 of the eye and the tip of the muzzle ; head triangular, as 

 wide as long ; upper eyelids wrinkled transversely on their 

 hinder portions ; tympanum circular, as large as the open- 

 ing for the eye ; teeth on the palate in a line exactly be- 

 tween the nasal openings, but not touching them, whereas 

 in the B. temjoomria they are a little behind those open- 

 ings ; tongue broad, spongy, covered with very small round 

 granules, divided posteriorly into two lobes; the upper 

 surface of the body with a number of scattered warts, or 

 with small longitudinal folds, a glandular swelling on each 

 side of the back running along the sides ; the orifice which 

 gives vent to the vocal bladder of the male is longitudinal, 

 and placed exactly at the angle of the gape ; in a full- 

 grown individual, this bladder, when swollen, is as large as 

 a small cherry ; the skin on the beUy is smooth throughout. 



The length of the head and body is above 3 inches ; of 

 the fore-legs, 1| inch; of the hind-legs, 4| inches. 



The colouring varies considerably, and seems to depend 

 upon the country which the individual inhabits, although 

 the first variety is found everywhere. 



Var. A. Upper parts of the body a fine green, irregularly 

 marked with brown or black spots ; along the back are three 

 lines of bright gold-yellow ; a black streak runs from the 



