ORDER BATRACHIA. 443 



temporaria. It seldom comes to laiid, and never removes 

 from the banks of streams, ponds or lakes. Motionless, 

 either on the surface of the water, or fixed on some aquatic 

 plant, it pours forth during the summer season the most 

 intolerable croakings. 



Its eggs are spread in packets on the marshes. Its thighs 

 are in great request among the amateurs of good cheer. A 

 very considerable consumption of these frogs is made in 

 Vienna, where they are fattened up in froggeries, (grenouil- 

 lieres) constructed for the express purpose. 



They are frequently taken during the heats of summer, 

 with a line baited by a small bit of scarlet cloth, which is 

 kept in motion, so as to give it the appearance of a living 

 being. 



There are many varieties in this species, which have been 

 pointed out with great care by Daudin. One of these was 

 employed by Spallanzani in his experiments on generation. 

 The back of this variety is of an uniform green, and it in- 

 habits the river and dykes of Lombardy. Another has the 

 edge of the lips black, rounded black spots on the sides, and 

 the belly entirely white. It has been observed by Van 

 Ernest in Holland. A third is of a sombre green, with 

 transverse brownish spots on the limbs ; it was found by 

 Daudin in the neighbourhood of Beauvois. A fourth in- 

 habits Provence, and is remarkable for its reddish belly. 



The common frog of this country, I'ana temporaria^ is 

 called the red frog, by the French. It is tolerably abun- 

 dant throughout all Europe, and is different from the last 

 species, both in colour and habits, though it has not always 

 remained unconfounded with it. It prefers wooded and 

 mountainous situations, and frequents meadows and gardens 

 during fine weather. It is most generally found on land in 

 the summer season, and while the green frog rarely aban- 



