Ranidae 



from the nostrils to the eyes. The frog shows no salmon-red 

 colour when in sitting position, and so one's surprise is great 

 on discovering so much brilliant colour on the under surface of 

 the frog's body and legs. The undersurfaces of the arms may have 

 the same colour. The lack of red on the side distinguishes it 

 at once from Rana Draytonii (see Colour Plate XV), and from 

 Rana aurora, as does also, the lack of dark cheek-patches. 

 The position of the eyes also aids in the distinction. 



As to colouration, this frog may be any shade of yellowish 

 or reddish brown, from the lightest to the darkest. The sides 

 are always lighter than the back. The legs are irregularly 

 barred and spotted with brown. The knees are likely to possess 

 the same light yellowish grey colour of the lower sides. The 

 male is considerably smaller than the female, and is likely to 

 be more spotted. The forearms are muscular, and the first 

 finger is thickened and hardened at its base. The feet and 

 webs are enormous for the size of the frog. (Fig. 260.) The 

 web has a spread of one and one-half inches on a frog only two 

 and one-half inches long. 



When taken in the hand so that its feet are unsupported, 

 this frog " talks " vigorously, as do many of the frogs and toads. 

 This is true of both male and female, but the voice of the male 

 is louder and more emphatic. External vocal pouches do not 

 show when the frog croaks. 



The Western Frog is thoroughly aquatic in its habits. It 

 gets its food largely from the water, feeding greedily on small 

 fish, as does its near neighbour on the Western coast, Rana dray- 

 tonii, and as does the Eastern Bullfrog. 



It is interesting to watch the male swim in very shallow 

 water. With flattened body and lowered head, he searches 

 for something under which he can hide. Finding nothing, he 

 kicks out his powerful legs, alternately spreads and folds the 

 extremely large webs, and continues the search. He some- 

 times turns so sharply, that the body is entirely turned around 

 before the legs have had time to turn, and so for the moment 

 one leg ludicrously measures itself straight forward along the 

 body. Finally, some bit of moss is found under which the frog 

 can push his head, and there consider himself safe. So safe 

 does he feel, that almost immediately he lifts his head till nostrils 

 and yellow eyes are above the weeds and water. The eyes are 



220 



