254 BATRACHIA. 



longer than the others, the &st and second not shorter 

 than the fourth ; hind-legs not as long as the body, their 

 toes much less webbed than in B. vulgaris ; the tubercle 

 there representing the sixth toe either absent, or very 

 small ; the skin covered with warts and pimples ; on each 

 hind-leg is a large gland; the male is provided Tvith a 

 vocal bladder, but it is altogether internal ; the warts of 

 the body vary much in size and number in different indi- 

 viduals ; in some the upper surface is almost free from 

 them. 



Length of the body, 2-| inches. 



From the variations in colour which occur, some Na- 

 turalists suppose that two distinct species exist, but the 

 authors of the ' Erpetologie Generale ' have decided that 

 the B. calamita and B. viridis are specifically the same. 

 The prevaihng tint of the upper parts is dirty green, 

 with a mixture of brown, olive, tawny, or yellowdsh. 

 In many individuals, more particularly those found in 

 England, and the North, East, and West of Erance, a 

 bright yellow hne runs down the middle of the back ; 

 the warts and pimples are often reddish ; parts beneath 

 whitish, often spotted with black ; legs marked with trans- 

 verse black bands. 



Frequents dry situations as well as moist, and resorts 

 to the water for the spawning and breeding season ; when 

 excited, emits from the skin a strong sulphuij odour. 

 Its croak is like that of the Tree Erog (Hi/la viridis). 



Eound over nearly the whole of Europe, the West of 

 Asia, and North of Africa. In England, on heaths near 

 London, and in some other parts of the country. Occurs 

 in a few localities in the South-west of Ireland. Com- 

 mon in many parts of Germany, Poland, South of Erance, 

 the plains of Switzerland, and Southern Kussia. Is not 

 often met with in Belgium, but is abundant in Italy; 



