i>Tj2 On remarkable Specimens of Rana esculenta. 



LXr. — On remnrhahle Specimens o/Rana esculenta from 

 South-icestern Persia. By G. A. BouleNGER, F.R.S. 



The collection made by Mr. R. B. Woosnam when accom- 

 panying Col. Baihvarcl in Persia contains two specimens of 

 Rana esculenta, male and female, which do not fall under the 

 definition of any of the races hitherto distinguished, and for 

 which I think it desirable to propose a new name — var. susana 

 — the specimens having been captured not far from the ruins 

 of Susa, at an altitude of about 400 feet. 



This variety agrees with var. ridihunda, to which I have 

 referred the Persian specimens previously examined by me, in 

 the small size and feeble prominence of the inner metatarsal 

 tubercle, and with the typical form in the comparatively short 

 tibia3, which barely meet at the heels when they are laid at 

 right angles to the body. Besides, the length of the tibia is 

 less than one half that of head and body, whilst in var. ridi- 

 hunda it usually measures one half or more. The life-colour 

 of the malespeeimen, obtained in a small stream on March 20th, 

 is described in Mr. Woosnam's notes as drab colour, with a 

 few dark brown spots ; head, shoulders, and upper back light 

 green : the female, caught in the Kerkbah River on March 

 19th, was of a greenish-brown colour, with dark brown 

 blotches and a broad light stripe along the middle of head 

 and body. Other specimens of R. esculenta, obtained by 

 Mr. Woosnam at Kermanshah, GOOO feet altitude, are 

 referable to the var. ridihunda, 



I append some measurements of these specimens, in 

 accordance with the method proposed in the ' Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society,' 1891, p. 377 : — 



1. Length (in uiillinietres) from snout to vent. 2. Length of tibia (in 

 the flesh). 3. Length of foot measured from outer metatarsal 

 tubercle to tip of fourth toe. 4. Length of inner toe. 6. Length 

 of inner metatarsal tubercle. 



