THE EDIBLE FROG. HI 



may be distinguished from the common frog are : — 



the absence in the former of the conspicuous dark 



patch, which in the latter extends from the eye to 



the shoulder — the vocal sacs or bladders at the 



angles of the mouth in the edible frog, which are 



distended while croaking, and which are absent in 



the common frog — and the light line which runs 



down the back of the former but which is not seen 



in the latter. To these may be added the more 



distinct and beautiful markings in the edible frog, 



its louder note, and generally larger size. In their 



food, habits, and habitats, there is probably no great 



difference between them, except that the edible frog 



appears to be more exclusively aquatic. Messrs. 



Dumeril and Bibron, the authors of a large French 



work on Eeptiles, say that: — 



It inhabits indiscriminately running or still waters, the borders 

 of rivers, rivulets, or strearn3, lakes or ponds, salt or fresh 

 marshes, or even ditches and simple pools of water. Sometimes 

 they are seen on the leaves o£ water-lilies, or on the herbage of 

 the banks, where they love to bask in the warm sunshine; but 

 at the slightest noise they strike into the water, and do not 

 again expose themselves until certain that all danger is past. 



In the edible frog the toes are cylindrical, and a 

 little swollen at the tips ; the webs of the toes are 

 slightly notched, and do not reach the extreme tips ; 

 the fourth toe of the hind foot is one-fourth longer 

 than the third and fifth; the nostrils half-way 

 between the corner of the eye and the tip of the 



