Facts concerning amphibians not in conformity with the 

 theory of geographical races have been reported by many investi- 

 gators, TERENTJEV (1949, 1960) discussed an independent variability 

 of measurable features in Bombina variegata (L,), B. bombina CL ••")", 

 and B. orientalis (BLGR,), as well as a typical clinal variabil- 

 ity with Hyla arborea arborea L. The same trends of variability 

 were observed by KAURI (1959) in Rana esculenta L, CURRY-LINDAHL 

 (1956) has shown that the distribution of the so-called varieties 

 " maculata " and " striata" of the moor frog ( Rana arvalis NILSS.) is 

 not in agreement with that expected of geographical races. In- 

 vestigations made by LAC (1956) on moor frogs from eastern Slovakia 

 have shown that there are intermediate populations between R, arvalis 

 arvalis and R, arvalis wolterstorf f i FEJ. The same author (LAC, 

 1957), also noticed intermediate populations between Triturus 

 cristatus cristatus (LAUR. ) and T. cristatus dobrogicus (KIR.). 

 This intermediacy was earlier noted by FUHN (1953), in populations 

 in the neighborhood of Bucharest, 



My investigations have confirmed such statements. I have 

 especially studied the variability of the European species of 

 Bombina . Examining large samples of individuals, I stated (STUGREN, 

 1959, STUGREN and POPVICI, 1961), that in the area where the red 

 bellied toad ( B. bombina (L. ) and the yellow bellied toad ( B. variegata 

 (L.) live together, heterogeneous populations , with some characteris- 

 tics of both species, are often to be found. The distribution of 

 these characteristics in the populations studied follows the rule of 

 P0ISS0N. But no intermediate subspecies between the two European 

 species of Bombina have developed. Every population can be deter- 

 mined as belonging to B. bombina or to B. variegata . I suggested 

 that the "mixture of traits" is not a consequence of a mass-hybridiza- 

 tion, because the populations are ecologically segregated, But no 

 mechanism able to explain these facts are so far available, These 

 phenomena being at the limit between two clines, I suggest the 

 term of interclinal variability. 



Rana arvalis is represented in Rumania by isolated populations. 

 Some of them are reported as belonging to R. arvalis arvalis , while 

 the others to R. arvalis wol terstorf f i . But no clear morphological 

 differences have been found between them. STUGREN and P0P0VICI 

 (1960), described an intermediate population between the two races. 

 Yet unpublished data (manuscript in print), lead to the conclusion 

 that R. arvalis cannot be split into geographical races. 



