Fkogs. REPTILES. Common Frog. 89 
and is only adapted for living in the water. This 
state does not last very long. Changes continue to 
take place as the development of the little creature 
progresses. No sooner have the external gills attained 
their greatest development, than they begin to diminish 
in size; they become obtuse, and are gradually so 
reduced as to be withdrawn within the branchial 
cavity, and concealed by a little operculum of the 
integument. The eyes are now perfectly formed ; the 
mouth has acquired movable lips ; and the web or 
membrane of the tail has become considerably deve- 
loped, and serves for very varied and rapid locomo- 
tion. By and by the legs begin to show themselves 
— the hinder extremities first, and the fore legs shortly 
after. As the hinder extremities increase in size, 
the tail becomes less, until it almost disappears by 
being absorbed. The gills then disappear ; the animal 
respires air by means of its lungs, and now acquires 
the form which it is destineddo preserve for the rest of 
its life. They grow very rapidly after this, assume their 
carnivorous tastes, and come on to the dry land to 
search for worms and insects. During the summer 
frogs change their skin several times — at least they 
throw off their epidermis. They are said to he long- 
lived, though there is no certainty as to the exact 
number of years. It is ascertained, however, as a 
fact, that they do not retain their reproductive powers 
beyond three or four years. The flesh of frogs is 
white, delicate, and contains much gelatine. In Eng- 
land frogs are not eaten, indeed are rather looked upon 
with disgust as an article of food ; but in France and 
some other parts of Europe a great consumption of 
these creatures takes place. They are taken in various 
ways — caught with a hook, or in little nets, or drawn 
to the shore by means of rakes. Sometimes they are 
fished for at night, and with the aid of torches, the 
light of which attracts them. They are considered 
best, as food, in autumn, just previous to their seeking 
their winter’s retreat ; for at that period they are fatter 
and in better condition, and their flesh is of a more 
delicate flavour. In spring they are less delicate, and 
not so well flavoured ; but notwithstanding that, many 
are taken at that season, as they are then more easily 
caught. In some places on the continent there are 
depots, where frogs are kept in reserve to be sold at 
all seasons of the year. Gardens are furnished with 
pieces of water for the purpose, and surrounded with 
walls to prevent their escape. About a century ago, 
or perhaps more, frogs were much more in request as an 
article of food than they are now. A native of Auvergne, 
it is said, of the name of Simon, made a considerable 
fortune in Paris, by fattening up, in a suburb of that 
city, the frogs which he had collected in his own 
country. Even at the present day in France, and in 
various parts of Italy, these ci’eatures are to be found 
at certain seasons in most of the markets. In Ger- 
many too, they form a portion of the food of the people, 
and in that country, it is said, all parts of the animal 
are eaten except the skin and viscera; whereas in 
France only the hind legs are used for that purpose. 
They are dressed like fish, and served up with wine or 
white sauce. 
The species of this group, the Tailless Batrachians, 
Voi.. II. 68 
are found in all parts of the world. Many species 
have been described; seventy-five distinct members 
of this section alone (Kanina) being enumerated in the 
Catalogue of the British Museum. It is a curious fact, 
that some have been found existing in the waters of 
hot springs. Spallanzani has recorded their being 
seen by him in the hot baths of Pisa, in a temperature 
of 37° of Reaumur — equal to 115° Fahrenheit. None, 
however, it would appear, have ever been found in any 
volcanic islands. This euT ious fact was stated by Bory 
St. Vincent, and since then has been confirmed by Mr. 
Darwin. 
RANA TEMPOKAEIA. — This is the most abundant 
of all the species of the Ranina in this country. In 
Great Britain it is called the Common frog, hut on the 
continent it is known by the name of the Red frog 
— to distinguish it from the Green or Edible frog, 
which is their common frog. It is tolerably abun- 
dant throughout all Europe, and lives much on land 
during the summer season. In this country it is 
found in moist meadows and gardens ; and while 
the Green frog rarely forsakes the water, this species 
must be sought for amongst bushes and long grass, 
even a long way from the neighbourhood of streams. 
The male does not possess the vocal sacs, and from 
its not in consequence having such a loud croak, it 
has been sometimes called the Mute frog. It does, 
however, emit this sound, but, it is said, chiefly when 
under water. The Common frog is of a brown colour, 
inclining more or less to yellowish or reddish-brown 
on the upper side, spotted irregularly with black, brown, 
or brownish-gray, with transverse bands of the same 
colour on the legs. The under surface is yellowish- 
white, sometimes with spots similar to those on the 
back, but smaller and fewer. One of the most char- 
acteristic marks of the species is an elongated patch of 
brown or brownish-black behind the eyes, on each 
side, and extending from the eye to the shoulder. It 
is from this distinguishing mark that it has obtained 
the name of temporaria — in allusion to this patch on 
the temples. The skin is naked and smooth, and the 
animal is remarkable for its changes of colour. These 
changes, says Professor Bell, although certainly much 
less striking and considerable, are scarcely less varied 
than those exhibited by the chameleon. At the 
approach of winter they retire to their hybernating 
retreats, and remain during that season in a state of 
torpidity. Their winter quai’ters are generally at the 
bottom of ponds, amongst the mud, and they are some- 
times to be found in such places in large numbers, 
embracing each other so closely as to appear like 
one continuous mass. Though, as we have stated 
above, the Common frog of England is found through- 
out the greater part of Europe, and, according to 
Dr. Gunther, even in Japan, in China, and North 
America, it has been frequently related that it does 
not exist, as an indigenous species, in Ireland. Any 
person travelling in that country at the present day 
can have no difficulty in ascertaining the fact of their 
existence ; but it would appear that they were only 
introduced there a little after the beginning of the 
eighteenth century. 
THE EDIBLE, OR GREEN FROG {Rana esculenta oi 
