Vari<i(i)n of the Edible Frog. 243 



8 oil the other, and one (troni Vienna) has l)iit a .sino-le tootli. 

 3 to 5 is the nsual number in the var. chinensis. The 

 series of teeth are usually nearer to each other than to the 

 clio:inpe, hut they are sonielinies equidistant in the typical form 

 and the var. ridibandu and usually so in the var. sahqrica ; 

 an arrangement such as is represented on the figures in 

 Schreihrr's hook* I am sure never occurs. In a female 

 from Cadillac, Giroiide (var. ridihunda) the teeth form long-, 

 slightly curved series, extending almost right across the 

 sp;ice liefween the choanfe. The series are sometimes hoii- 

 zontal, sometimes more or less oblique though seldom very 



<j^€a> 



^ (j3 o •iJISiG^:© 



a 1) c 



d e f 



Vomerine teetli in specimens fron St. M.ilo (a, b), Cadillac (c), 

 Basle (dj, Oporlo (n), and Dead .Sea (1). 



much so ; a male from St. Malo has the series oblique on 

 the right side, horizontal on the left. The teeth are usually 

 exactly between the choante, but they may extend backwards 

 beyond a line connecting the posterior borders of the latter, 

 or, more exceptionally, they may be on a line with their 

 anterior borders (specimens from Oporto and Pekin). There 

 is no diti'erence whatever in the disposition of the vomerine 

 teeth that could hel[) in the definition of the vai'ious t'orms 

 of U. esculenta. 



The Tongue. 



The tongue varies much in size : it may nearly cover the 

 floor of the mouth or its width may be only about one-third 

 that of the latter. Bedriaga f has alrtady mentioned that 

 the posterior processes .also vary much in length according- 



* ' Herpetologia Europaea,' 2ud ed. (1912), — So much in tliis book is 

 merely careless compiiatiun that 1 need not further allude to it except 

 to express amazement at the sugoestiou there made that the Spanisli- 

 Portuguese frogs named vars. Ji'gpanica and perezi may be the same as 

 the var. Iesso7ue ; also at reading that the males ot JL yrtccu and 

 It. ibertca are distinguished from those of allied species in having 

 external vocal sacs. 



t Lurchl'auna Eurona's, i. p. 36 (181)1). 



19* 



