1714 The Zoologist — June, 1869. 



lias arrived at perfection ! What, then, is the test of maturity ? We 

 are, as it were, still on the very threshold of knowledge as regards 

 these creatures, and they may possibly pass away before we have 

 entered even the vestibule of the temple. 



It is clear that the Metamorphotic Reptiles exactly correspond with 

 the Batrachians of Cuvier, and his divisions Les Grenouilles (Rana) 

 and Les Salaraandres {Salamaiidra) must be accepted under the 

 names of Ranidae or Frogs and Toads, and Salamandridai or Newts. 

 They are distinguished by the simple and very convenient character 

 of possessing or not possessing a tail in the perfect state. 



Order I. or Family I. Frogs and Toads (Ranid^). 

 Have no tail when arrived at maturity. 



Genus Bdfo. 

 Skin dry, warty : no teeth, either palatal or maxillary. 



The Natterjack {Bufo viridis). 

 Natteijack Toad, Goldenback, Walking Toad, Mephitic Toad, 



Bufo viridis, Dinneril and Bibron, vol. viii., p. 681 ; Clermont, 



Quadrupeds and Reptiles of Europe, p. 253. 

 Bufo variabilis, Schinz, Europ. Faun., vol. ii., p. 74. 



Bufo Calamita, Jenyns, Brit. Vert., p. 302. Bell, British Reptiles, 

 p. 126. 



Bufo viridis, Buon. Faun. Ital, and Bufo Calamita, Buon. Faun. 

 Ital., figured as two distinct species. 



A word as to the name. In the 'Penny Cyclopedia,' article "Toad," 

 there is the following note on this subject: — " Bufo Calamita, Laur, 

 recorded as a distinct species by the Prince of Canino ("Fauna 

 Italica" and "Amphibia Europea"), is considered by MM. Dumeril 

 and Bibron as identical with Bufo viridis." My friend Mr. W. R. Tate 

 writes me thus: — "I think Bufo viridis is only a variety of Bufo Cala- 

 mita: I possessed a German specimen some time ago, and it differed 

 only from the Natterjack in being of a more decidedly green colour, and 

 in having the dorsal stripe very faint. In the number of toes, formation 

 and mode of progression it was identical with B. Calamita, and it 

 emitted the same sulphurous scent when handled." Two varieties are 

 of frequent occurrence on Blackheath, — one of them decidedly greener 

 than the other, — but I cannot accept them as species, although I 



