THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



171 



The more rapid development of the limbs in the wild state could not be 

 owing to higher temperature, for the temperature of my room was always 

 higher than the surrounding air, and it must therefore be due to the quantity 

 of suitable, food. I have brought several specimens, showing the various 

 stages of larval development, some with gills, some with hind legs only, some 

 with all four legs, and some with the tail about to be absorbed. 



Having traced Rana temporaria from the egg to the adult form, it will be 

 as well to give a full description of the animal, before entering upon the con- 

 sideration of its habits. 



The ground colour of the dorsal surface is very variable, yet the markings 

 are surprisingly constant. I have specimens of many colours, yellow, green, 

 brown, and even brick red, The ventral surface is always yellow, with 

 chocolate coloured spots, which are denser on either side of the throat. The 

 colours are always much brighter during the breeding season, and we will 

 describe a pair which has just bred. 



The female is larger than the male, and is 3 inches long in the body, the 

 hind leg when extended measures 4 inches ; the fore leg is 1 \ inches long, the 

 toes being, unlike those of the hind foot, free and devoid of web. The upper 

 surface of the body, head and legs, is olive green with two light but well 

 marked dorsal ridges, between which the colour is paler ; outside these ridges 

 run narrow blotches of dark brown. On the dorsal surface are round black 

 spots which usually run in pairs ; similar spots occur on the sides, though 

 they are less numerous. The upper surface of the legs is barred and spotted 

 with dark brown. 



There is a dark brown patch from the eye to the shoulder, which also 

 covers the ear ; this mark is unvarying in, and is characteristic of, this species. 

 There is an oblong dark brown patch immediately in front of and below the 

 fore leg, running towards the throat. There is also a band of brown running 

 the whole length of the hind leg down to the feet, forming, as it were, a 

 barrier between the colourings of the upper and lower surfaces of the animal. 

 The eye has a horizontal black pupil, with gold rim. 



The general markings of the male are similar to those of the female, but 

 the ground colour is darker. The throat, however, is bluish white, quite free 

 from spots ; and this is characteristic of the males in the breeding season, 

 after which period it gradually resumes the normal colour and markings of 

 the ventral surface. The fore leg of the male is shorter and thicker than that 

 }f the female ; and on the first toe there is a muscular sucker of black velvety 

 ippearance, which is developed in five days, and at the close of the breeding 

 jeason is lost as rapidly. The length of the body is 2 J inches, fore leg 



