EDIBLE FROG. 113 



I gave a figure of this species in the former edition 

 of the present work, taken from a foreign specimen, but 

 I have thought it better to have the present illustration 

 taken from an individual which is a native of the British 

 locality before referred to. The figure above referred to is 

 repeated below : it will enable the reader to compare the 

 English with the foreign variety. 



The following notice, in a recent number of the " Zoo- 

 logist," * shews that the extension of this fine species 

 may be easily effected. " Mr. Henry Doubleday having 

 received from Foulmire Fen, some living specimens of this 

 truly beautiful Frog, turned them loose near a pond 

 not far from his residence. They soon migrated to an- 

 other pond, and there have made themselves perfectly at 

 home." 



The peculiarities both in habits and appearance which 

 characterize this species in England, agree, as far as they 

 have been observed, with those mentioned by Dumeril and 

 Bibron, and other continental authors. " It is," say these 

 eminent naturalists, " essentially aquatic. It inhabits in- 

 discriminately running or still waters, the borders of rivers, 

 rivulets or streams, lakes or ponds, salt or fresh marshes, 

 or even ditches and simple pools of water. Sometimes 

 they are seen on the leaves of water-lilies, or on the herb- 

 age 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. 



The croaking of the male is exceedingly powerful, and 

 is produced by means of the air which it forces into the 

 globular vocal sacs, which are situated near the corners of 

 the mouth, and causes to vibrate in them; they croak 



* Page 2268. 



