VI 



RANINAE 267 



hand, if we assume the lessonae specimens to be the last living- 

 descendants of English natives, it is inconceivable why they 

 should now be restricted to that eastern corner while there are 

 hundreds of other suitable places in England and Wales which, if 

 on the Continent, would be perfect paradises for Water-frogs. The 

 same vegetation, the same insects, the same climate, and an 

 enormous advantage to the frogs no storks. 



These English specimens are " olive-brown or bronzy-brown 

 above, with black spots, strongly marked on the flanks, where a 

 light longitudinal area remains unspotted ; glandular folds lighter ; 

 the sides of the head and the ground colour of the flanks are 

 sometimes green ; tympanum chestnut-brown ; a pale yellow or 

 pale green vertebral line, frequently edged with black ; the dark 

 cross-bands on the limbs usually very irregular, sometimes absent ; 

 lower surfaces more or less profusely spotted with blackish ; iris 

 golden. Length of a male from Stow Bedon, 64 mm. or 2^ 

 inches; of a female, 78 mm. or 3 inches." 1 



4. Yar. ckinensis, Osb. Distinguished by short glandular 

 folds along the back, in addition to the long dorso-lateral pair. 

 The metatarsal tubercle is large and shovel-shaped. Distribution 

 from Corea and Japan to Siam. 



All these Water-frogs are decidedly aquatic. They make short 

 excursions on land when their homes are dried up, but as a rule 

 they remain in the lake, pond, river, morass, or ditch in which 

 they were born. Their favourite resorts are the broad floating 

 leaves of water-plants, for instance water-lilies, or a prominent 

 stone, a tussock of grass, or the banks of their homes, where 

 they sit motionless, basking for hours in a half -erect, alert 

 position, watching for insects and other small fry, which are 

 secured by a jump, and then lapped up. Sunshine is sure 

 to bring them out, and on our approach they make straight 

 for the water, either by one tremendous leap or with quick 

 bounds, but without the slightest hesitation or stopping on the 

 way. With folded arms they take a header, swim, with the 

 arms still folded, for some distance under water, and conceal 

 themselves in the mud, between stones, or in the vegetation. We 

 perhaps have not seen them at all, whilst their watchful eyes and 

 keen ears have noticed our approach, and the pond might appear 

 uninhabited if we had not heard the plumping noise. If we 



1 Boulenger, op. cit. p. 278. 



