AMPHIBIANS. 217 



the Edible Frog 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 gener- 

 ally larger size," M. C. Cooke. The hind feet are more 

 completely webbed than in the Common Frog. The 

 ground colour is greenish with black markings. Length, 

 3J inches. The food and habits are similar in both species, 

 but the Edible Frog is found always in, or close to water, 

 and when alarmed always plunges in, and does not again 

 show itself till certain that the danger is past. The 

 Edible Frog is common on the continent, but it is very 

 doubtful whether it is indigenous to our own country, 

 as it was intentionally introduced in 1837 to the Fen 

 Country. What is most strange, however, is that Eyton 

 states positively that it occurred near Wellington, Salop, at 

 that very time. The French emigrants evidently did not 

 introduce it themselves for he says that they were 

 " highly delighted at finding the true sort " there. Eyton 

 was far too good a naturalist to make a mistake as to 

 the species, and we can only conclude that the Edible 

 Frog is either a true Native, or that it was introduced 

 by some person, and at some period unknown. We often 

 hear about the French eating Frogs : they do not eat 

 the whole animal only the legs, as stated in the 

 following account written by the late Frank Buckland : 



