384 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



it occurs, apparently, in all districts sufficiently dry, but has a 

 decided preference for the hills. In the Alps it rises to a 

 considerable altitude (1900 metres, according to Fatio) ; and 

 the few I have caught there, in the eastern portions, are not so 

 brightly coloured, even when young, as those from Baden. In 

 the Palatinate I only obtained one young specimen near the 

 Madenburg, with the light red inferior surfaces; but it is 

 considered fairly abundant throughout the country. 



Amphibia. 

 Order I. Anura. — 1. Fam. Eanina. 

 1. Rana esculenta, L. — Plentiful throughout the Grand 

 Duchy, save perhaps in some of the more barren and exposed 

 parts of the Schwarzwald. It is most abundant in the large 

 forest belt bordering on the Khine, whose numerous inlets 

 and connecting streams resound with its melodious concerts. 

 Common enough near Carlsruhe : — in the Kiver Alb, already 

 mentioned ; in the small lake of the Stadtgarten ; in the fountain 

 of the Schlossgarten, and the ponds of the Wildpark. There 

 was formerly also a small colony in some ditches on the 

 Exercierplatz, of which there are now no traces. I have not 

 missed it anywhere in my excursions through the Bavarian 

 Palatinate and Elsafs. 



R. esculenta is visible in favourable localities up to the middle 

 of October, but is far behind the Common Frog in its spring 

 appearance, being seldom in full numbers till the end of April. 

 Single individuals can be met with by the 20th March. Even 

 before this they are roughly awakened by the professional frog- 

 catchers who invade their muddy retreats and carry on a suc- 

 cessful business for those who appreciate this delicacy. I have 

 several times caught specimens swimming awkwardly minus one 

 limb, who doubtless owed the preservation of their lives to a 

 vigorous and unexpected jerk of the remaining member; but 

 never altogether deprived of their legs, so that I imagine the 

 frog-catchers are fairly merciful, hereabouts at least. 



Being pre-eminently aquatic, this species is seldom found far 

 from its element, and if by chance this does occur (for batrachians 

 are often found in the most incomprehensible situations) the 

 skin becomes warty and discoloured. In turbid water and shaded 

 ponds of which the bottom is covered with an accumulation of 



