THE FROG. 261

body and limbs with irregular blackish marks; the under
parts are of a pale greenish-yellow ; like all other species that
are in the habit of casting their skins, there is much dif-
ference in the brightness and intensity of the colours at
different times; the teeth are very small; the eyes large and
brilliant ; the ears are placed behind them, and covered by
a membrane; the hind feet are strongly webbed, to aid the
animal’s progress in the water, to which it sometimes retires
during the great heat of summer, and in the frosts of winter,
when it lies in a torpid state buried in the soft mud at the
bottom of stagnant waters.

The frog mentioned in Exodus viii. as having “ covered
the land of Egypt” is the Rana punctata, or dotted frog, its
ashy-coloured surface being marked with green spots. The
feet of this species are banded transversely, and the toes are
separated half their length ; it changes colour when alarmed ;
it is rare in Europe, though still very abundant in the
Nile and other waters of Egypt. It was one of the sacred
animals of the ancient Egyptians.