THE ORIENTAL MIGRATION. 259 



Oriental migration might be mentioned Eryx jaculus> 

 whose home is probably in Western Asia. It is 

 known in Europe from the Greek islands of Tinos 

 and Naxos, from Turkey and Southern Russia. 

 Another, a peculiar worm-like form, lives under- 

 ground in damp earth and under stones Typhlops 

 lumbricalis. This species inhabits the mainland of 

 Greece as well as the Greek islands, and Asia Minor 

 as far as the Caucasus. 



A most interesting case of distribution is that of 

 the pretty little Toad so well known on the Continent 

 under the name of " fire-toad " (Bombinator igneus). 

 Though some authorities, such as Boulenger, recog- 

 nise only one form of Bombinator^ others are of 

 opinion that two well-marked varieties exist in 

 Europe. These are looked upon by Dr. von Bedriaga 

 as good species, but he acknowledges that they are 

 rather critical and difficult to identify. No other 

 species of Bombinator occur in Europe. Bombinator 

 pachypus, the western race, or if we choose to call it 

 species, occurs in France, Germany, Switzerland, 

 Austria, Sicily, and Greece. B. igneus the eastern 

 race is found in Southern Sweden, Denmark, Ger- 

 many, Austria, and Russia. The latter has therefore 

 a more northerly and easterly range. The species is 

 not known from Siberia, but makes its appearance 

 again in China in a form which, according to Dr. von 



1 Since writing the above account, Mr. Boulenger, in his new work 

 on the Batrachia of Europe, has accepted the specific distinctions 

 between the two fire-toads. 



