EDIBLE FROG. 111 
Its existence as a British species was first recorded in the 
“ Zoologist,” in the following notice from Mr. Bond, dated 
November, 1843 :*—‘* I have the pleasure of recording in 
the ‘ Zoologist’ the capture of the Edible Frog (Rana 
esculenta, Linn.) for the first time, I believe, in this 
country. Two specimens were taken by my friend, C. 
Thurnall, Esq., of Duxford, in Foulmire Fen, Cambridge- 
shire, in September last.” Shortly afterwards a charac- 
teristic figure was published in the same work; and 
subsequently I received some specimens myself from Mr. 
Bond, which I had an opportunity of comparing and iden- 
tifying with the continental species, having then in my 
possession many living ones, which I had received from 
France. Mr. Bond relates, in a farther notice in the same 
work,} that they were very abundant in that locality, and 
expresses his surprise ‘that they were never seen before, 
their croaking being so very different from that of the com- 
mon frog; the sound is more of a loud snore, exactly like 
that of the barn owl (Strix flammea). The whole fen was 
quite in a charm with their song.” Mr. Bond proceeds to 
say, that “this Frog is a very timid animal, disappearing 
on the least alarm, and it is not very easy to catch. It 
seems to be entirely a water reptile, never coming on the 
land ; at least, [ never could find one out of the water, 
like the common species.” The very remarkable and sono- 
rous croak belonging to this species had procured for the 
Frogs of this neighbourhood the names of ‘“ Cambridge- 
shire nightingales,” and of ‘* Whaddon organs;” and I 
have often heard my father, who was a native of those 
parts, say that the croak of the frogs there was so differ- 
ent from that of others, that he thought they must be 
* Zoologist, vol. ii. p. 393. + Page 677. 
