90 RANADA. 
the distinctive characters of the whole group are most ob- 
viously and unequivocally developed,—a test insisted upon, 
I believe, by all who have even professed to believe in the 
existence of such types of form,—it is in the family Ranade 
that we may expect to find the typical character of the pre- 
sent class of animals; and the truth of this test is not in- 
validated by the absurd and even ludicrous instances of its 
breach, of which some of the most strenuous asserters of the 
principle have been guilty. To apply to this test only one 
or two of the structural or physiological peculiarities of the 
class. The most remarkable and important of all is the 
change, which has already been mentioned, from the con- 
dition of a fish to that of a reptile; and in this respect, 
whilst we must consider the permanent pisciform condition 
of the Proteus, the Stren, and others, which retain their 
branchial respiration throughout life, as an abnormal form 
leading towards the fishes, and the Cecilia, on the other 
hand, as probably approximating the Ophidian Reptilia ; 
the caducibranchiate groups —and especially the present 
family—exhibit the phenomena of this metamorphosis to 
the greatest extent, the change which they undergo being 
certainly more complete than that of any of the other 
forms. The cutaneous respiration is another peculiar 
characteristic of the class; and there is no doubt that 
this function also is enjoyed by the Frogs in the highest 
degree. 
The innocent and very useful species about to be de- 
scribed, is one of the most common of our vertebrated 
animals. It is found in almost all parts of this island, 
wherever there is a river or a pool, or even sufficient shade 
to maintain the degree of moisture necessary to preserve 
the respirable condition of the skin ; for the presence of a 
considerable quantity of water, although requisite for the 
