244 BATRACHIA. 



Var. B. Ground colour yellowish green; along the back 

 and frequently on each side a white stripe ; sometimes a 

 similar one on the forehead meets that on the back. 



Var. C. Spots on the back few or none, those elsewhere 

 much smaller. 



In all these varieties the belly is white or yellowish. 



Lives in small streams and in fresh- or salt-water marshes 

 in Greece, Sicily, Sardinia, and North of Africa, often in 

 company with the Rana viridis. According to Prince 

 Buonaparte, his B. Sardus is peculiar to Sardinia. 



Genus PELODYTES. 



Tongue almost circular, scarcely notched, free behind ; 

 a group of palatine teeth at the anterior inner angle of each 

 nostril ; tympanum distinct ; fore-feet with four toes, not 

 webbed ; hind- toes depressed, their webs either very short 

 or much developed ; eustachian tubes moderate ; males with 

 a vocal bladder. Only one species known. 



Pelodytes ptuictatus. 



Pelodytes punctatus, Dust, et Bib. vol. viii. p. 463 ; Buon. Faun. Ital. 



(figured). 

 Alytes punetatus, Schinz, Europ. Faun. vol. ii. p. 77. 



Descbiption . — Head depressed, triangular ; space between 

 the nostrils equal to half of that between the eyes ; a long 

 narrow gland above the ear, and a small one at the corner 

 of the mouth ; the body elongated and very slender behind ; 

 the upper parts with numerous small warts of different 

 sizes ; in the males these form two longitudinal rows on 

 each side, one running near the top of the back, the other 

 aloDg the flank, which a fold of skin divides from the belly. 

 In the breeding season the males on several parts acquire 

 a roughness of the skin, to render more secure their hold 

 on the back of the females ; this may be observed on the 



