250 BATRACHIA. 



In Italy, in the mountains especially, the feet are much 

 thicker than elsewhere, so as to have a swollen appearance ; 

 it is upon this fact that Prince Buonaparte is inclined to 

 look upon the Italian animal as specifically distinct, under 

 the name of B. pachypus. 



Length of the body scarcely more than 1 inch. 



The under surface is sometimes smooth, sometimes with 

 a few small glandular warts. The colour of the upper 

 parts is a dull olive-brown, sometimes paler; there are 

 small black spots on the edge of the upper jaw and along 

 the toes ; all the lower parts are a fine orange or rose- 

 colour, marbled, or spotted with blue or bluish black. 



It passes most of its time in the water ; spawns in May 

 and June ; prefers ditches and ponds where the water is 

 brackish ; when frightened, and unable to escape, it raises 

 its legs towards its head, throwing the latter back in a 

 ridiculous manner, and squirting from the vent a frothy, 

 acrid fluid. 



Found nearly all over the temperate regions of Europe ; 

 all over France, Germany, Switzerland, and Russia. In 

 Italy, chiefly in the Apennines, never in the plains. Is 

 very common in pools among the wooded hills and heaths 

 of the Ardennes ; also in Silesia. Not rare in GalHcia, the 

 Bukovina, and Carniola. 



Genus HYLA. 



Readily distinguished from the rest of the European 

 Ranidce by the enlargement of the extremities of the toes, 

 which are provided each with a disk or cushion, enabling 

 the animal to adhere to leaves of trees and other smooth 

 substances. The abdomen is covered with numerous small 

 tubercles. There is in the males of nearly all the species 

 a vocal bladder under the throat, or on each side of the 



