22 THE COMMON FROG. 



is entirely naked. They have a sternum or breast- 

 plate, but no ribs. They are destitute of tails, and 

 their hind legs are longer than the others. 



The number of species hitherto described is about 

 fifty. These are divided into three sections : namely, 



Frogs, which have smooth bodies, longish legs, 

 and discharge their eggs in a mass. 



HyU, or Tree-Frogs> that have their hind legs very 

 long, and the toes unconnected ; and 



Toads, which have their bodies puffed up and 

 covered with warts. These have short legs, and 

 do not leap. They discharge their eggs in a very 

 long necklace-like string, 



THE COMMON FROG*. 



The Common Frog is found in great quantities 

 in moist situations throughout Europe. Its colour is 

 olive brown, variegated above with irregular blackish 

 spots. Beneath each eye there is a patch or mark 

 that reaches to the setting-on of the fore-legs. 



Its appearance is lively, and its form on the whole 

 by no means inelegant. The limbs are well calcu- 

 lated for aiding the peculiar motions of the animal, 

 and its webbed hind-feet assist its progress in the 

 water, to which it occasionally retires during the 

 heats of summer, and again in the frosts of winter. 

 During the latter period, and till the return of 

 warmer weather, it lies in a state ot torpor, 

 either deeply plunged in the soft mud at the bot- 



* Synonyms. — Rana temporam. Linn. La Rousse, la Mu- 



ctte. La Cefede—-— Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. 3, tab.^y. 



