1(5 FROM THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS, 
chap, vallum, beyond which, as before stated, those 
1 ‘ L , monuments cease to appear. It is surrounded, 
near to its summit, with a circular wall ol stones, 
placed regularly together, without any cement. 
Beyond this ridge, and these tombs, the view 
comprehends the whole of the Cimmerian Bosporus, 
the harbour of Panlkapceum, the opposite coast 
of Phanagoria, Prehla volcano, and a great variety 
of objects, among which, at the time we were 
there, the passing fleets of European and Asiatic 
merchants, from all the ports of the Black Sea, 
the Archipelago, and the Mediterranean, were not 
the least interesting. Over all the distant pro- 
montories towards the east ; in all the plains 
below; and wheresoever the eye could roam, 
excepting beyond the Bosporian vallum, ap- 
peared the antient tumuli so often described. 
These tumuli, as well as the hills, were covered 
with wild thyme, which swarms of locusts were 
devouring. The earth seemed also to be alive 
with the Rana variahilis, a species of toad, de- 
scribed by Pallas, crawling up to the very 
summits of the highest hills '. This reptile has 
a smoother skin than the common toad ; it is 
smaller, and more active ; and it is covered with 
beautiful round spots, which lessen the horror 
(l) The Rana risaloria is also frequently found in this part of the 
Crimea. 
