66 KKPTILIA. 



in the gusty day, rather a subdued sound, much resembling, and mis- 

 taken by ray companion (I. B,. G.) for, the noise of a railway train. 

 They Avere stated by a little boy who lives close by and was observing 

 them with us, to have been there for five or six days ; not, he said, on this 

 day week. 



Feb. 16, 1851. — The Avinter, unlike last, has been remarkably mild; 

 happening with the same companion to pass the same spot to-day, we re- 

 marked the frogs just as described above. 



With respect to the distribution of this species over the islands contigu- 

 ous to the Irish coast, it may be mentioned that in 1834 I observed frogs 

 in Achil ; but Mr. G. C. Hyndman informs me that they are not found in 

 Tory Island nor in the largest of the Copeland Islands. 



In an article on the Common Frog, written in a very pleasing and po- 

 ])ular style by my friend Dr. R. Ball, and published in the Irish Penny 

 Journal, Oct. 3, 1840, after stating that " it contributes materially to check 

 the increase of slugs and worms," he says, 



" I have often vindicated the frog from charges brought against him by gar- 

 deners. I liave been shown a strawberry, and desired to look at the mischief he 

 had done. I have pointed out that the edge where he was accused of biting out 

 a piece was not only dry but smaller than the interior of the cavity, and it there- 

 fore could not be formed by a bite. I have then shown other strawberries 

 with similar wounds, in which small black slugs Avere feeding, and I have cut up 

 the supposed straAvberry-devouring frog, slain by the gardener, and shoAvn in his 

 stomach, Avith several earthAvorms, a number of little black slugs of the species 

 alluded to, but not one bit of fruit ; thus proving, I hope, that the cultivator of 

 straAvberries ought for his oAvn sake to be the protector of frogs." P. 110. 



The Commox Toad, Bvfo vulgaris, Laur., 



Though so common in Great Britain, is not found in Ireland. 



I have observed toads to be numerous in Ayrshire; and in 1832 I Avas 

 told that they frequent Aberarder. 



The Natter-Jack Toad, Bufo Calamita, Laur,, 



Is found in several parts of the County of Kerry, Avhere it is believed to 

 be indigenous. 



In the 9th volume of the Magazine of Natural History (24 Feb. 1836), 

 p. 316, Mr. J. T. Mackay published the folloAving notice of this animal : — 



"I have lately got from Kerry living specimens of the Irish toad, AA'hich I 

 announced at the meeting of the British Association to have observed at Calna- 

 fersy, tAvelve miles from Killarney, in 1805. It is not the common English 

 toad [as announced at the Association meeting. W, T. ], but the natter-jack 

 {Bufo Rubetra). * * * It Avas found by me 30 years ago in the place mentioned, 

 where it Avas knoAvn to the peasantry as the black frog ; and it Avas inquiring for 

 them under this name that led to the discovery. Mr. Macgilbcuddy, the gen- 

 tleman AA-ho brought me the living specimens about a month ago, informs me that 

 they bury themselves under the dry sand in the Avinter, and may be sometimes 

 seen in summer evenings running about like mice hi the houses, AA^hich they some- 

 times enter." 



Dr. Ball of Dublin informed me several years ago that he had seen a 

 specimen of this toad Avhich Avas taken at Rosbegh in the year 1836. 

 The person AA'ho captured it stated that it AA'as one of some hundi-eds ob- 

 served by him in the same locality. Dr. Ball subsequently, at the 

 Zoological Gardens, Phcenix Park, turned out sixty of them ; but never 

 saAV one of them afterwards. 



