176 



YELLOW TOAD. 



Rana Lutea. R. corpore luteo, pedibus omnibus subpalmatis, 



Molin. ChiLp. 190. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 1050. 

 Yellow Toad, with all the feet subpalmated. 



This has the general habit of a common frog, 

 but is much smaller, and the skin is warted : its co- 

 lour yellow * ; all the feet subpalmated. Inhabits, 

 like the former, the waters of Chih. 



Some other undetermined or uncertain species 

 might be added to this genus, from the vague de- 

 scriptions and rude figures of authors ; but as no 

 dependence can be placed on their accuracy, it is 

 perhaps best to omit them altogether. 



* The colour, throughout this whole genus, but more particu- 

 larly among the Toads, differs in intensity, according to the time 

 which has elapsed since the animal cast its cuticle. The manner 

 in which toads perform this process is thus related by Mr. 

 Schneider, from Grignon, who was an eye-witness of it : " The 

 skin splits or cracks in a longitudinal direction both above and 

 below ; and the animal pulls off that of the left side with its left 

 foot, and delivering it into the right foot, applies it to its mouth 

 and swallows it : it then performs the same process on the right 

 side with the right foot, and delivering the cuticle into the left 

 foot, swallows it like the former. 



