Ranidae 



others, and has the habit of turning during the movement, so that 

 when it strikes the ground it is facing the enemy. It is much more 

 alert in getting food, resembling the toad in this respect. It sees 

 the moving insect at a distance of several feet, stealthily walks 

 or creeps toward it, and perhaps follows it some distance, before 

 making the capture. Besides, the Wood Frog is our most silent 

 frog, in this, again, resembling the toad. It is only at the early 

 breeding-season that its hoarse croaking can be heard. When 

 a creature lives on the ground, and has no manner of defense, 

 and none of escape, except jumping (and that always on the 

 ground), silence must be a great protection. 



The Wood Frog may measure 2^ or 3 inches in length. 

 Its head is pointed. The body is broad and flat. (Fig. 243.) 

 The legs are extremely long, measuring twice the length of the 

 head and body together. The hind feet are strongly webbed. 

 The upper parts are light or dark reddish, yellowish, or greyish 

 brown in colour. This frog is distinguished within its own range 

 by the dark-brown or black cheek-patches. A distinct dark 

 line reaches from the front of the eye to the end of the muzzle. 

 A golden yellow line extends along the sides of the upper jaw 

 and is continued to the shoulder. The eyes, which are larger 

 than the ears, are very orominent, and possess an alert, but gentle 

 expression. The golden iris shows a lower half much darker 

 than the upper. The light-brown lateral folds, extending from 

 the eyes to the posterior end of the body, are very conspicuous. 

 (Colour Plate XIV.) The male Wood Frog, when held in the 

 hand, talks in a vigorous purring voice, something like that of 

 the Common Leopard Frog. 



Very early in the spring, the Wood Frogs come from their 

 winter sleep under the leaves and mossy logs. In fact, they are 

 the first to be enticed by the spring sunshine. In February or 

 March, after only a few days of moderate temperature (40 to 60 

 F.), the frogs are out and the eggs are laid 1 in the pools of the 

 woods or of the open country adjacent. The eggs are laid in 

 masses which measure about four or five inches in diameter, and 

 which contain from one thousand to three thousand eggs each. 



1 March 23, April 2, 1882. W. H Hinckley, Milton, Mass. 

 February 23, March 8, 1890. T. H. Morgan, Baltimore, Md 



April 4, April 10, 1904. After an unusually severe and prolonged winter. (The eggs were 

 hatched by April 23.) M. C. Dickerson, Providence, R. I. 



208 



