RANA TEMPORARIA. ^41 



comer of the eye, passing over the nostrils to the end of 

 the nose, where it meets a similar streak on the other side ; 

 on the front of the arm, near the shoulder, is a black streak, 

 which is found in all the varieties of the animal ; the lower 

 extremity of the back is marbled with black, white, or 

 ycUow; sometimes the colour of the back is grey or brown. 



Var. B. Differs from the foregoing by the absence of the 

 yellow gold lines on the back. 



Var. C. Common in Italy, Sicily, Provence, and Spain. 

 Has all the upper surface chestnut-red, with brown marks, 

 more or less apparent, and is probably the " Bana mari- 

 tima^^ of Eisso. 



It passes most of its time in the water, and is found in 

 vast numbers in many marshes and ponds. Its loud croak 

 is known to all European travellers. In many parts of the 

 Continent, such as France, Italy, and Germany, its flesh is 

 considered peculiarly wholesome and delicate food. The 

 spawn is usually attached to plants at the bottom of the 

 water, and is seldom seen on the sui'face. 



This Frog is found aU over Europe, except in the British 

 Islands; throughout the North of Asia to Japan, and in 

 Egypt. 



Rana temporaria. 



Rana tawporaria, Dum. et Bib. vol. riii. p. 358 ; Schinz, Europ. Faun. 

 vol. ii. p. 67 ; Buon. Faun. Ital. (figured) ; Bell, Brit. Eep. 

 The Common Frog. 



Description. — Head nearly triangular; teeth minute, form- 

 ing a single row in the upper jaw, none in the lower, also 

 an interrupted row across the palate ; tongue fleshy, soft, 

 lobed at the tip, folded back on itself when not in use ; in 

 the fore -feet the third toe is longest, the second shortest, 

 the fii'st and fourth nearly equal ; hind-legs more than half 

 as long again as the body ; toes on their feet webbed, the 



