Bufo. reptiles. BATRACHIA. 159 
ponds. The tadpoles are gregarious until they acquire the adult forms, when 
they quit the water, only returning to it occasionally. 
10. R. esculenta. Edible Frog. — Middle of the back with a 
protuberance; sides, margined. 
Linn. Syst. i. 257* Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 13. — Llyffant melyn cefn 
grwm. — Not so common as the preceding. 
Muzzle pointed. Body narrow behind, arched as if broken across. Above, 
green, with three longitudinal yellow lines ; the middle one sunk ; the lateral 
ones elevated. Below whitish, with black spots. Fore-feet with four divided 
toes ; the hind feet with five, united by webs. 
Gen. VII. BUFO. Toad. — Jaws destitute of teeth. Body 
warty. Tongue short and thick. 
11. B. vulgaris. Common Toad. — Body swollen. Head 
large, above dusky-black. Fore-feet with four divided toes ; hind 
feet with six, united by webs. 
Bufo, Sibh. Scot. 13. Ray., Syn. Quad. 252. Rana Bufo, Linn. Syst. i. 
354. Pen7i. Brit. Zool. iii. 14. — T, Taed ; W, Llyffant die, Llyffant 
dafadenog. 
This weU known animal, though a dev ourer of worms, slugs, and wasps, and 
therefore useful in gardens, though inoffensive in its manners, and destitute 
of any venomous quality, is despised, hated, and persecuted by the ignorant. 
Few individuals, even of education, will venture to take a toad in their hand, 
or act otherwise than loath it. How surprising that prejudices so unjustifiable 
should stiff continue to prevail! 
12. B. Ruheta. Natter- Jack, — Above yellow, clouded with 
brown, with a mesial yellow line. 
Bana Bubeta, Linn. Syst. Nat, i. 355. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 19. Lace- 
jsecfe, Ov. Quad. ii. 253. 
This species, which differs from the preceding in having only five toes on 
the hind feet, is covered with porous pimples. The hind part is blunt, and 
scattered underneath with small points. Its motion is more liker running 
than either leaping or crawling. Mr Pennant says that it frequents dry and 
sandy places ; is found on Putney Common, and also near Bevesby Abbey, 
Lincolnshire, where it is called the Natter- Jack, Its history, like that of 
many of our native reptiles, is involved in obscurity. 
