246 BATRACHIA, 



minent ; muzzle very convex ; mouth forming a semicircle, 

 following the outline of the jaws ; nostrils terminal, as far 

 apart as the eyes ; the fore-legs, when placed along the 

 body, extend to the origin of the thighs; the hind-legs 

 reach beyond the nose by the length of their fourth toe ; 

 above the ear is an oblong gland pierced by very Tni-n nt.fi 

 pores ; below the throat is a fold of skin of unusual deve- 

 lopment ; all the upper parts are sprinkled with very small 

 warts, and the lower regions with still smaller ones. 



Length of the body, under 11 inch. 



Upper parts sometimes inclining to grey, sometimes 

 olive, feebly and irregularly spotted with brown, red-brown, 

 or brick-coloured marks of small size ; beneath white, finely 

 speckled with black on the throat, the sides of the abdo- 

 men, and under each of the legs. 



The female produces in March from fifty to sixty eggs, 

 about as large as a grain of millet, joined together in a sort 

 of chain by the glutinous substance with which they are 

 surrounded. "While these eggs are leaving the body of the 

 female, the male, who is always in attendance, places them 

 around his thighs, to which they adhere, and where they 

 remain until the young tadpole is ready to come forth ; this 

 interval is spent in a hole two or three feet under ground. 

 As the moment for the bursting of the eggs approaches, the 

 animal takes to the water, which assists him to get rid of 

 • his burden. This curious species is further remarkable for 

 its shrill croak or note, which is compared to the sound of 

 a glass bell. 



It inhabits most of the temperate parts of Europe, pre- 

 ferring the central to the southern countries. Is very com- 

 mon in France, especially near Paris. Occurs in Picardy; 

 M. Crespon records it as not rare in the Department du 

 Gard. Very rare in Belgium. Inhabits Switzerland, the 

 Ehine districts, and other parts of Germany, PodoKa, and 



