ox TIIK HABITS OF BRITISH FROGS AXD TOADS. 19 



tlio pool, become "lost " and only re.o-ain the water by cliance or, 

 tor a season, may even fail altogether to reach water and to 

 propagate their kind. Field naturalists are well acquainted with 

 the Newt's capacities for travelling. 



6. That further experiments on a more extensive scale ought to 

 settle this matter ; suitable ponds, however, are difticult to find, 

 particularly in this part of the country. 



I hope those living in more favoured localities will be induced 

 to carry these preliminaries to more decisive results. 



In conclusion, I should like to thank Dr. R. M. Yerkes, of 

 Harvard University, for the encouragement he has given me \ii 

 tins undertaking, and my sister for her services in obtaining 

 specimens and in dredijinff. 



2. Some Remarks on the Habits of British Frogs and Toads, 

 with reference to Mr. Cummings's recent communication 

 on Distant Orientation in Aniphibiu. Bj Q. A. 

 BOULENGER, F.R.S., F.Z.S, 



[Received November 6, 1911 ; Read Jfovemljer 21, I'Jll.] 



In the course of the discussion which followed Mr. Cun>mino-s's 

 communication at the Meeting on October 24, I made so°me 

 remarks on the habits of Batrachians, which the Secretary has 

 asked me to embody in a short paper for the information of those 

 who might feel inclined to carry on further observations in this 

 country on the interesting subject with which Mr. Cummiii"s 

 has dealt. o 



There is great diversity i^moiig Tailless Batrachians in the 

 possession, lack, or degree of instinctive foresight in selectin<>- 

 places for the deposition of their eggs. Leaving out t^he 

 thoroughly aquatic Edible Frog {Rauu esculenta), which has only 

 doubtful claims to be regarded as British, two of our species 

 the Common Frog {Rana temporaria) and the Natterjack Toh(1 

 {Bafo calamita), belong to the category of the least gifted in this 

 respect, whilst the third, the Common Toad {Bitfo vulyaris), 

 beliaves diflerently, and is besides possessed qf an instinct for 

 orientation which appears to be highly developed. The fact that 

 after the perfect condition is attained. Tailless Batrachians' 

 unlike the Ti^iled, do not regenerate lost parts, would render the 

 Common Toad further suitable for experiments on migrations 

 after the amputat;on of a ijnger or toe, as a distinctive mark! 

 ihe Natterjack is, with us, a very local species, but the Common 

 loail and the Common Frog are ubiquitous and, as youn^ or 

 outside the breeding -season, are often found far from water, to 

 which they have, of course, to resort for oviposition. How the 

 three species behave in connection with this function I will tell 

 briefly from my own observations. 



The Co-MMox Fkog exercises little discrimination in the choice 



