3. Var. lessonae, Camerano.–Except that the inner tubercle is stronger, while the outer one is near the vanishing point, and that the fourth toe is proportionally longer, this variety is really not distinguishable from the typical form, and Boulenger himself confesses that the distinction is arbitrary. The var. lessonae seems to have a rather sporadic distribution. It has been found in Piedmont and other parts of Italy, in Hungary and Transylvania, near Vienna, Halle, Upper Bavaria, on the Rhine, near Brussels, Paris, and what is of especial interest to us, in a few places in the eastern counties of England.
According to Boulenger's "Notes on the Edible Frog in England,"[[116]] the individuals of R. esculenta which live in Foulmire Fen in Cambridgeshire, near Stow Bedon, and between Thetford and Scoulton in Norfolk, and are generally supposed to have been introduced from France, belong to the Italian form of var. lessonae. "It used to be found in Cambridgeshire, in Foulmire Fen, where it was discovered in 1844; and Bell[[117]] assures us that his father, who was a native of Cambridgeshire, had noticed the presence of these frogs many years before at Whaddon and Foulmire, where they were known from their loud croak as 'Whaddon organs' and 'Dutch nightingales.' The species was afterwards rediscovered in Norfolk, between Thetford and Scoulton, where it is now still very abundant, and from inquiries made by Lord Walsingham, must have existed for the last seventy (80) years at least. These frogs belong to the var. lessonae, and differ widely (by the much stronger inner metatarsal tubercle) from those found in a few other places in Norfolk, which are undoubtedly the descendants of a number imported from France and Belgium in 1837, 1841, and 1842, and turned loose in the Fens at Foulden and in the neighbourhood.... Within the last ten years large numbers of all the three forms have been imported from Brussels, Berlin, and Italy, and liberated in various localities in West Surrey and Hampshire. Berlin specimens of the var. ridibunda have also been introduced in Bedfordshire, and Italian ones in Oxfordshire."[[118]]
Leaving aside the question whether the so-called var. lessonae is merely sporadically developed out of the typical form, the inquiry of the possible origin of the English specimens of the var. lessonae is of special interest. Have they been introduced, as has been suggested, from Lombardy, or are they the last lingering descendants of native English frogs? The suggestion as to their Italian origin has naturally lost in value since similar specimens have been found in Belgium and near Paris; but we must remember that there existed considerable intercourse between East Anglia and the monks of Lombardy, who, to mention only one instance, came regularly to the old Priory of Chesterton, near Cambridge, in order to collect their rents. If the frogs were introduced by them for culinary purposes into various suitable localities their descendants would remain as local as they, and as the undoubtedly introduced French typical specimens actually are. On the other hand, if we assume the lessonae specimens to be the last living descendants of English natives, it is inconceivable why they should now be restricted to that eastern corner while there are hundreds of other suitable places in England and Wales which, if on the Continent, would be perfect paradises for Water-frogs. The same vegetation, the same insects, the same climate, and–an enormous advantage to the frogs–no storks.
These English specimens are "olive-brown or bronzy-brown above, with black spots, strongly marked on the flanks, where a light longitudinal area remains unspotted; glandular folds lighter; the sides of the head and the ground colour of the flanks are sometimes green; tympanum chestnut-brown; a pale yellow or pale green vertebral line, frequently edged with black; the dark cross-bands on the limbs usually very irregular, sometimes absent; lower surfaces more or less profusely spotted with blackish; iris golden. Length of a male from Stow Bedon, 64 mm. or 2½ inches; of a female, 78 mm. or 3 inches."[[119]]
4. Var. chinensis, Osb.–Distinguished by short glandular folds along the back, in addition to the long dorso-lateral pair. The metatarsal tubercle is large and shovel-shaped. Distribution from Corea and Japan to Siam.
All these Water-frogs are decidedly aquatic. They make short excursions on land when their homes are dried up, but as a rule they remain in the lake, pond, river, morass, or ditch in which they were born. Their favourite resorts are the broad floating leaves of water-plants, for instance water-lilies, or a prominent stone, a tussock of grass, or the banks of their homes, where they sit motionless, basking for hours in a half-erect, alert position, watching for insects and other small fry, which are secured by a jump, and then lapped up. Sunshine is sure to bring them out, and on our approach they make straight for the water, either by one tremendous leap or with quick bounds, but without the slightest hesitation or stopping on the way. With folded arms they take a header, swim, with the arms still folded, for some distance under water, and conceal themselves in the mud, between stones, or in the vegetation. We perhaps have not seen them at all, whilst their watchful eyes and keen ears have noticed our approach, and the pond might appear uninhabited if we had not heard the plumping noise. If we keep quite still, and they have not been disturbed previously, one after another will wriggle out of the mud, rise slowly to the surface under cover of the plants, and, without causing a ripple, rise just enough for the prominent eyes and the nose to clear the surface. Then one scrambles partly on to a leaf, but the sight of the huge human figure strikes him as uncanny, as it certainly does not belong to the scenery, and he doubles back, the broadly-webbed feet making a little splash. But another appears, jumps on to a leaf in the middle, or at the farther end of the pond, settles down, and utters a little croak, somewhat like "ooaar," and soon the whole company appear one after another, each taking up its favourite position. After all, their observing powers cannot be very great. If we ourselves keep still we may wield a rod and fish for them. There is no need of a hook, a piece of red cloth tied to the end of the line and skimmed over the water causes a lively commotion. The new bait is noticed at once, and arouses their curiosity; several jump at it, and the one which swallows the bait can be lifted out before it has time to let go. However, this is after all poor sport; the game is too eager. When a boy I have often caught them with a noose of slender wire at the end of a long hazel rod. They do not mind the rod at all, their attention being fixed on the person; they allow the noose to be slipped over their heads, and a sudden jerk secures the captive. In this way they can be singled out individually. Old frogs are more wary and experienced than the younger members; they take up safer positions, and by their sudden plunges give the alarm.
Fig. 51.–Rana esculenta. × 1. Three stages of the movement of the tongue.
The males are great musicians, singing for sheer enjoyment not only during the pairing time, but throughout the months of June and July. Warm moonlit nights are the favourite times for the concert, which takes place in the water, beginning at sunset, and continuing until the early dawn. A few individuals here and there utter a single note, "gwarr, oo-arr," or "coarx," but these are only preliminaries. The precentor–the country-folk in North Germany firmly believe that in each pond one old male holds the dignified position of choir-master–begins with a sharp-sounding "brekeke," and this is the signal for all the others to chime in with the same notes, varied with all sorts of other sounds, bass, tenor, and alto, each performer filling its resounding vocal sacs to bursting size, and these bags then look as if they acted as floats. When there are several hundred of these sociable creatures, the din is continuous, and may be heard more than a mile off. There can be too much of this, just as there can be too many nightingales; and a well-stocked pond in the neighbourhood may become a perfect nuisance. There are accounts of servants having been employed in the Middle Ages for the sole purpose of keeping the noise down by beating the pond, throwing stones into the water, or otherwise disturbing the frogs. Sometimes more vigorous and lasting measures seem to have been taken; the monks exorcised them in order not to be disturbed in their vigils. Near the former monastery of Chorin, in the province of Brandenburg, the frogs have still the reputation of keeping very quiet on account of some powerful abbot who threatened them with awful consequences if they did not forego their concerts.
