242 BATRACHIA. 



fourth exceeding the third and fifth by one-third, whereas 

 in the R. esculenta it exceeds those toes only by one-fourth ; 

 the skin is everywhere smooth except between the thighs, 

 where it is a little wrinkled. The upper parts are brown, 

 yellowish, or reddish, sometimes almost black, more or less 

 spotted with black ; on the legs the spots are transverse ; 

 the most constant mark is an elongated patch of brown or 

 black on the temples, which is wanting in the preceding 

 species, and has given its name " temjooraria" to the pre- 

 sent one ; there is generally an indistinct whitish line down 

 each side of the back, the space between the lines being 

 paler than the adjoining parts ; there are no vocal bladders. 



Length from snout to vent, 2-| inches, often more. 



Spawns about the middle of March in shallow pools ; 

 dimng the greater part of the year frequents grassy places, 

 often a long way from water. 



Found in Europe from the South to the extreme North, 

 specimens having been received from the North Cape, and 

 generally very common ; in Italy, however, it is not nearly 

 so abundant as the B. esculenta. It is the common Frog 

 of the British Islands. 



Genus DISCOGLOSSUS. 



Tongue nearly circular, but slightly three- sided, not 

 notched or lobed, free at its hinder margin; a transverse 

 row of teeth on the palate, placed behind the inner orifice 

 of the nostrils ; some traces of glandular swellings on the 

 sides of the neck and shoulders ; toes of the fore-feet com- 

 pletely free ; no vocal bladder in the males ; outline of the 

 body inclined to an oval form. 



