116 RANA ESCULENTA. 



This species is about eighteen inches in length, and of a dusky 

 brown colour, with several paler fascia?, which take their rise from 

 the abdomen, and ascend on the sides. The body is thick, and, as 

 well as the head, is entirely covered with very minute, carinated, 

 rough or warty scales. It inhabits the rivers of Java, and is said 

 to be a poisonous species. 



RANA ESCULENTA. 



Esculent or Green Frog. 



Class Reptilia. Order Batrachia, Cuv. 



Gen. Char. Body thick, tailless, a little compressed, 

 elongated, moist, covered with a few small tubercles ; 

 sternum and clavicles distinct ; mouth toothed ; feet 

 four, long ; toes pointed ; larva elongate, fish-like, 

 tailed, and without legs ; gills four on each side. 



Spec. Char. Body transverse, gibbous, green, with 

 black spots, and three longitudinal lines upon the 

 back. 



La Grenouille verte ; Daudin, viii. p. 90. Raua esculenta ; Syst. Nat. Grnelin; 

 p. 1053. Rcesel, Hist. Ran. t. 13. La Granouille commune; La Cepede, ii. 

 part iii. art. i. Gibbous Frog; Pennant, Brit. Zool. iii. p. 7. Esculent, or 

 greeuFrog; Shaiv Zool. iii. t. 31. 



The flesh of the green Frog is much esteemed on the continent, 

 particularly in France, Italy, and Germany, as an article of food, 

 and the spawn {sperma ranarum) formerly obtained a place in our 

 dispensatories. In its general form this species resembles the 

 common brown Frog, (Rana temporaria), but it is larger in size 

 and of an olive green colour, with black spots and strongly marked 

 with three longitudinal lines on the back. It is found abundantly 

 in stagnant waters both in Europe and Asia, though it is much 



