RANA DELALANDII. 
greenish yellow variegated with liver-brown stripes and cream-yellow spots. 
Tympanum black.* 
Form, &c. — Head viewed from above subconical ; the nose prolonged con- 
siderably beyond the under jaw, its apex slightly rounded ; palatal teeth 
apart from the nostrils, vide fig. 1, a; tongue broad, subovate, and rather 
strongly forked, vide fig. 1 , b ; rostral canthus obtuse ; sides of head as far as 
the middle of the upper lip inclined obliquely outwards, the edge of the lip 
inclined inwards ; nostrils small, and situated on the rostral canthus, about 
halfway between the point of the nose and anterior angle of the eye. Eyes 
moderately large ; eye-shield prominent and arched; tympanum nearly cir- 
cular, close to and directly over the angle of the mouth, its surface marked 
with six or more radii, which proceed from the centre to the circumference. 
Body rather bulky, back flat, sides prominent and arched ; fore legs short and 
rather slender ; toes at base connected by a subrudimentary web, all are rather 
slender, the outer, the third, and the innermost nearly of equal length, the se- 
cond rather longer; the inner one at its base enlarged ; on the sole of the foot 
behind the second and third toes a small convex tubercle, also one, but smaller, 
under each joint of the toes. Hind extremities long and robust, the toes 
webbed nearly to their point, vide fig. J, c, the outermost and the third of 
equal length, the second much longer, the fourth considerably shorter than 
the third, and the fifth about half the length of the fourth, the point of each 
is rounded and obtuse, and under each joint is a small subovate or hemispheri- 
cal tubercle. The tarsus is margined externally with a narrow semicar- 
tilaginous ridge, which is directed downwards. Skin generally smooth, with 
short longitudinal plicae on the back and sides disposed in several rows most 
distinct on the anterior and middle parts of the former ; in some specimens 
these plicae are scarcely if at all visible. Length from nose to anus, 3 inches ; 
length of hinder extremities, 5 inches. 
This frog occurs throughout the whole of Southern Africa, and is to be obtained in great 
abundance in the vicinity of Cape Town. It is generally observed on dry ground, but readily 
takes to water when alarmed or pursued, if the latter be within its reach. For further re- 
marks in reference to this species, see description of Rana Oxyrlvynchus, 
• Almost every specimen of this species presents some peculiarity in respect of colour, hence it is 
almost impossible to particularize variegations which are universal. Ihe more prevalent are, the dark 
rostral line, the blackish blotch encircling the tympanum , the club-shaped spots on the hindhead, the bars 
on the extremities, and the oblique white line on the side of the head. In many individuals the varie- 
gations on the back are as in the specimen figured and described ; in others, they consist in a profusion of 
irregular dark spots, while in a third class the back is comparatively without maiks of any desciiption ; 
in some specimens, again, a yellow line is seen to extend from the nose to the anus in both sexes. 
