Ranidae 



for it to attain a length of two and a half to three inches, and 

 eight years or more to become full-grown. It is said by people 

 of the Western Coast that RanaDraytonii is the best edible frog in 

 North America, and that the flesh of the Eastern Bullfrog is 

 tough and coarse compared with it. 



RANA AURORA, BAIRD AND GIRARD 



IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS 



Colour: Brown, yellowish, or olive, often matching the colour 

 of dead leaves. There may be small spots or specks of dark 

 brown or black on head, back, and sides. Space behind the eye 

 and including the ear may be black. A black line below canthus 

 rostralis from eye to jaw. Iris golden yellow. Glandular fold 

 from under eye to shoulder, yellowish. Upper and lower lips 

 spotted with dark. Arm may be crossed by 3 to 5 narrow dark 

 bands. Much red in the colouration, showing on the parts of 

 legs and feet which are concealed when folded, on the sides of 

 the body, and under the arms at their insertions. Reticulations 

 of yellow and black on body and femur where they lie against each 

 other. Throat and underparts light, obscurely mottled with 

 dark. Hand and foot may be purplish grey in colour. (For 

 colouration, see Plate XIV.) 



Measurements: Size medium, i. e. length 2^ to 3^ inches. 

 Length of head enters total length three and a quarter to three 

 and a half times. Leg very long, its length to the heel exceeding 

 the total length of the head and body. Tibia much longer than 

 femur. (See Colour Plate XIV.) 



Structure: Skin very smooth, finely pitted. Buttocks 

 granulated. Broad lateral folds perforated with pits. Groove 

 along the middle of the back. Body flat, long, and slender. 

 (Fig. 258.) Muzzle rounded. Canthus rostralis prominent. A 

 glandular fold of skin along jaw from under the eye to the shoul- 

 der. Eyes large, prominent, facing outwards. Space between 

 eyes equal to or greater than the width of the eyelid. Ear round, 

 one-third to one-half the diameter of the eye; it is likely to be 

 inconspicuous when the cheek-patch is dark. Ridge from pos- 

 terior angle of eye to shoulder not prominent. Tibia ridged 

 lengthwise. Arms and legs slender. Fingers long and slender; 



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