ORIGIN OF THE EDIBLE FROG IN ENGLAND. 267 



Prof. Newton acids {I. c ) that he regards the specimens found 

 by him in 1853, and which were deposited in the Norwich 

 Museum, as the descendants of Mr. Berney's importations. 



In the succeeding number of 'The Zoologist' (p. 6565) we 

 find a reply from Bell that the fact of the Esculent Frog being 

 indigenous to this country appears to him to rest on irrefragable 

 testimony. And, in favour of this view, he adduces the opinion 

 of his father, " formed nearly a century ago," regarding the 

 " Whaddon Organs," to which we have already referred. 



In the same volume of 'The Zoologist' (p. 6606) John Wolley 

 contributes an interesting article, entitled " Is the Edible Frog 

 a true Native of Britain?" in which, after discussing the in- 

 formation which up to that date had been obtained, he inclines 

 to the opinion that the species has been introduced, considering 

 the reasons given by Bell inadequate to prove that it is 

 indigenous. 



The last important note is by Prof. Newton, who relates 

 (' Zoologist,' 1877, p. 61) that, being in company with Lord Wal- 

 singham at a small station on the Thetford and Walton Piailway, 

 he found a colony of Edible Frogs, one specimen from which was 

 captured and presented to the Norwich Museum. He adds : — 

 " On reference to my former note it will be seen that this species 

 has thus made good its existence in Norfolk for at least thirty- 

 four years, and I cannot doubt that the last colony I found is 

 one of the results of Mr. Berney's original importations, as that 

 gentleman has informed me that he has not introduced any 

 more in the meanwhile, and I know of no one who is likely to 

 have done so. From Lord Walsingham I have since learnt that 

 he has ascertained that the species is pretty generally diffused 

 in a south-westerly direction from the place where we found it, 

 and therefore its naturalisation in the country seems to be 

 accomplished." 



Thus it appears that three opinions have been exin-essed 

 regarding the British Eana escidenta: — (1) That it is indigenous. 

 (2) That it was perhaps introduced by Itahans. (3) That the Nor- 

 folk specimens, and perhaps also the Cambridge ones, were intro- 

 duced by Mr. Berney from Belgium and the North of France. 



The first-named opinion has no evidence to support it : the 

 references of Fleming as well as of Bell's father, even if really 

 applying to this frog (which must always remain doubtful), would 



