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Show 376 MR. G. A. BOULENGER O N T H E [June 16, R. tigrina, Eichw., R. dentex, Kryn., 1R. maritima, Risso, R. his-panica, Mich., vars. latastii, bedriagce, Cam., R. fortis, Boul., var. perezi, Seoane. This is the largest and most widely distributed form, inhabiting the whole of Europe with the exception of the North-western and Central parts and Italy, Western Asia as far east as North Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and Eastern Turkestan, and North Africa. As being on the whole the least specialized form, i. e. departing less from the normal pattern of the genus to which it belongs, it deserves to rank first in the list, although the denomination of forma typica pertains to the next form, as having been first described under the name of R. esculenta. 2. Forma TYPICA. =R. esculenta, L., R. viridis aquatica, Ros., var. silvatica, Koch (type examined). Northern and Central Europe, Italy, Russia. 3. Var. LESSON^E. = var. lessonce, part., Cam. The habitat of this Frog, which in its characters is intermediate between the preceding and the next, is still very incompletely ascertained, specimens being known from England (Cambridgeshire and Norfolk), the Rhine, the province Saxony, Piedmont and probably other parts of Italy, and Malta. The British specimens are most likely introduced from Italy. The opinion recently expressed by Bedriaga, that Bell's R. scotica may belong to this form, is due to his having misunderstood that author. The figure given in the first edition of the 'British Reptiles,' and which has been reproduced in the second edition and copied by Ecker (Anat. des Frosches), is " taken from a foreign specimen," and represents R. esculenta typica. Bell's R. scotica is a synonym of R. temporaria. 4. Var. NIGROMACULATA. = i2. marmorata, Hallow. ; R. nigromaculata, Hallow.; Hoploba-trachus reinhardti, Peters; Tomopternaporosa, Cope ; var. japonica, Boul. The name japonica should be reserved for a species of the temporaria-vrowp ; and R. esculenta, var. marmorata, Massal., is of earlier date than R. marmorata, Hallow. I therefore adopt the name nigromaculata, Hallow., which stands next on the list of synonyms. This Eastern form ranges from Corea and Japan to Southern China and Siam ; the exact western limits of its habitat have still to be ascertained, and it would be particularly desirable to know whether it anywhere comes into contact with or overlaps the area of the ridibunda form. The principal characters which have proved of service in diagnosing these forms are the following :- 1. The development of the inner metatarsal tubercle, whether |