History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

158 REPTILES. BATRACHIA. Rana.Tail compressed, deep, ending in a somewhat blunt point.A thin narrowweb extends from the snout along the back (where it is notched), and upperand under edgesof the tail, to the vent—This species is probably the " L.terrestris vulgaris ventre nigro maculata" of Ray (Quad. 264), though insertedas a variety of L. agilis. It is more frequently found in marshes, and out ofthe water, than the following.7. T. aquaticus.Water Eft.— Skin soft, nearly smooth.Back greenish-brown,with dusky stripes. Belly orange,withdusky spots.Lacerta aq.Sibb. Scot. 13—Salamandra aq. Ray, Syn. Quad. 273—Lacertaaq. Linn. Syst.i. 370 L. maculata, Shepp. Linn. Trans, vii. 53.In ponds, especially of stagnant water.Length about 4 inches. Head depressed, with two lines of black dots.Sides spotted with brownish-black lines. Tail compressed, not so deep as inthe preceding species, and tapers to a finer point. A similar web along theback, decreasing in size after the season of love—This species is probably theSalamandra exigua, as the former seems to be the S. platycauda of Rusconi,an abridgment of whose curious observations on the metamorphoses of theseanimals is givenin the Edin. Phil. Journ. N° xvii.8. T. vulgaris.Brown Eft.— Above yellowish-brown,withdark spots and lines. Beneath red, with black dots.Lacerta vulgaris,Sibb. Scot. 13—Linn. Syst.i. 370—Brown Lizard,Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 24. Shepp. Lin. Trans, vii. 52—Inhabits understones in old walls and rubbish." Head compressed; upper part yellow-brown, marked with minute darkbrownspots ;on the forehead, of some, is a large dark spot ;under part yellowish-white.Upper eye-lids dark-brown ;lower ones dull yellow. Back yellow-brown,with minute darker spots; two deep-brown lines reach from thehead to the end of the tail. Belly and under part of the tail red, with a fewblack dots. Tail, sides ribbed with dark-brown. Feet without nails ; fore-feetwith four, and the hind ones with five toes. Length 4 inches."— Sheppard.The same observer adds, " L. vul. I have seen of all sizes, from one to fourinches in length, but never in any other than a perfect state,— a sufficientproof that, like the rest of the land lizards, it undergoes no change and that;it is perfectly distinct from L. palustris and maculata, both of which attain totheir full growth in the larva state." Should this species really prove to beovoviviparous, it will probably exhibit other characters by which it may beseparated from the aquatic species with which it is provisionally joined. Itshistory, however, is still involved in obscurity, and is, by many, consideredas identical with Triton aquaticus.Gen. VI. RANA. Frog.— Jaws and palatewith teeth. Toessimple.9. R. temporar'ia.Common Frog.— A black spot on eachside of the head.Rana, Sibb. Scot. 13.—R. aquatica, Ray, Syn. Quad. 247-—R. temp.Linn. Syst.i. 357- Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 9— S, Paddock ; W, Llyffantmelyn—Common.This common species, which requires no description, breeds earlier in theseason than other speciesof the tribe. The eggs are laid in clusters in shallow