LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY. 
465 
scale too low. It was afterwards reconstructed and removed to the 
Crystal Palace at Sydenham, where it was destroyed by fire. The 
most successful Barometer, in which a fluid other than mercury was 
used, was constructed by J. B. Jordan; it was filled with Glycerine, 
and from it the daily readings in the ‘ Times ’ newspaper are still, 
I believe, given. 
1802. 
9th July. “Arrived at Holme after having stay’d two days & 
3 nights with Fawcett at Snoring.” He gives a description of the 
Parsonage house, &c. 
July 14 “Saw several Natter Jacks, both old & young ones, 
their colour brownish green, with darker tubercles, the tubercles of 
the old ones are tipp’d with red, eyes green with yellow irides, belly 
lighter coloured with black spots. Mem. they have claws both on 
their fore & hind feet, & they move rapidly setting out with first 
a hop & then a run. Also another species of Frog nondescript, 
olive green above, lighter underneath with no black spots, eyes 
green with red irides, nostrils very distinct,' belly rather swelling — 
note — the common Frog is of a greenish-yellow colour, sometimes 
brown, a sharp nose with black moustaches, back narrow with ridges 
along the edges of it.” 
Dr. Sutton’s “nondescript” Frog I am inclined to think was 
merely a variety of the common Frog, he does not seem to realise 
how greatly this species is given to vary ; the absence of the “ black 
moustaches” which he seems to imply, is perhaps the most unusual 
feature, for they are very constant. 
Professor Bell (Brit. Reptiles, p. 100) calls attention to this 
tendency to variation in colour and marking in the whole family 
to which this species belongs, owing to variations of temperature, 
the intensity of light, the influence of fear or other “ mental 
excitement,” and Dr. Gadow (Camb. Nat. Hist. Amphibia, p. 252) 
is even more emphatic. Sutton does not state whether he observed 
more than one individual of this variety, and I do not think there 
is evidence to found a new species ! 
August 1. “Owing I suppose to the late continued rain the 
quickset fences in some instances brought forth blossoms a second 
time, especially on their eastern side.” 
