150 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



JBtjfo calamita {Natterjack Toad.) 



Skin — warty, densely covered with tubercles. Length of body %\m. to 

 2£in. Pore legs 1 Jin. long. Hind legs 2Jin. long. Fore feet not palmated. 

 Hind feet palmated. 



Legs formed for running and swimming. Head rounded, snout blunt. 



Dorsal ground colour, yellowish brown, suffused with olive, and marbled 

 with black ; well-marked dorsal line of brimstone yellow colour. 



Ventral surface, greenish white, marbled with black. 



A frog can at once be distinguished from a toad by its smooth skin, and 

 jumping powers. The common, can be distinguished from the edible frog, 

 by the presence of the brown patch running from the eye to the shoulder, 

 and by the absence of the dorsal line. 



The common toad can be distinguished from the natterjack, by the absence 

 of the yellow dorsal line, which is a constant feature in the natterjack, and 

 also by its sluggish movements. 



In the larval form, the common frog may be distinguished by its being 

 speckled all over with gold coloured spots. The. edible frog larva differs 

 from that of the common frog, in being free from gold coloured spots, and in 

 having its ground colour greenish (instead of brown), marbled with olive. 

 The toads are of a uniform blackish brown. The natterjack tadpole can be 

 distinguished from that of the common toad, by its denser black colour, and 

 smaller size. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES ON ZYG^ENA LONICERiE AND 

 Z. TRIFOLII. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



I am not in a position to throw any light on the discussion of the specific 

 identity of Zygana meliloti with Z. trifolii, but to those who are interested 

 in this remarkable genus the following may be interesting, relating as it does 

 to one of the forms under discussion (trifolii), and another closely allied 

 species (?) lonicem. But before relating a strange experience, it may be 

 advisable to point out that with regard to the former of these species (trifolii), 

 there seems to be at least two distinct forms. Zygana lonicerce is most con- 

 stant in its markings, the spots rarely coalescing, and being of a fairly large 

 size. Of Zygana trifolii, there are, as mentioned above, two (at least) very 

 distinct forms occurring at different times. One, a large strongly marked 

 form, inhabiting marshy districts, the two central spots on the anterior wings 



