BRITISH AMPHIBIANS 



wanderings. I cannot think it is nearly so well dis- 

 tributed as Rana temporia, but it may be that, unless 

 closely examined, some confusion between these two 

 species occurs. It is certainly most common in the 

 Eastern Counties. The Edible Frog is much more fond 

 of water than its commoner relative, and its chief char- 

 acteristics are " the pointed tips of the toes, smooth 

 under-surface of the body, a broad glandular fold along 

 the sides, and the marbling of the thighs." The hind 



HcLlbLe. Fr'og- 



feet are completely webbed (those of the Common Frog 



are only partly so), and the male has a conspicuous 



globular sac on either side of the head. This is the 



external vocal apparatus with which it croaks. It has a 



louder and more musical note than that of its cousin. 



The colour is subject to considerable variation. The 



upper parts may be bronze-brown, greenish, or olive, 



with spots or marbling of black, or dark brown. There 



are conspicuous light stripes along the back. The under 

 42 



