1855.] 423 



December 2.b(h. 



Vice President Bridges in the Chair. 



The Committees, to which were referred papers read by Major Le 

 Conte, Dec. 4th j by Mr. Cassin, Dec. 18th j by Mr. Conrad, same 

 date ; by Major Le Conte, same date : and by Dr. Leidy, same date, 

 reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : 



Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina of the United Slates. 

 By John Le Conte. 



On account of the numerous errors which have been introduced into that pait 

 of the Heruetology of our country, which treats of the froes and allied animals, 

 1 have been induced in this short memoir, to reduce sach as I ba\e been able to 

 obtain, to some better order. I offer but a descriptive catalogue. To this are 

 joined all the synonyms which I have been able to collect from works which 

 could be consulted in this city. 



Before I begin, it is necessary to observe that all the Ranina which I have ever 

 seen, have more or less the power of changing color at will. The character of 

 color therefore, of so much moment in the description of many other animals, is 

 here of very little value; for none of the marks dependant on it are constant. 

 In consequence, it requires numerous specimens, living subjects and locg study 

 to produce any description that approaches perfection. 



How far I have succeeded in my attempt remains to be seen. I have been 

 long and sedulously engaged in my researches. Every description has been 

 made from living specimens. The many strange errors and misnomeis pointed 

 out will perhaps appear at first sight extraordinary and not worthy of belief; 

 but it is to be hoped that the reasoning which has led me to differ so much from 

 others, will produce the same effect upon the minds of my readers as it has upon 

 mine. 



Rani Catesbiana. Shaw, gen. zool. vol. iii. pi. 33 ann. 1802. R. mugiens 

 Merrem. p. 175 ann. 1820. R. pipiens Holbrook iv. p. 77 et aliorum. R. scapu- 

 laris Harlan, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. vol. v. p. 335. Catesby Carolina vol. ii. tab. 

 72. Vulg. Bull frog and Blood and Owns. 



Add to the descriptions already given, a short raised line runs from the back 

 of the orbit, to the tympanum and is curved down behind it. Body above finely 

 granulate, more distinctly at the base of the jaws. Color above olive green and 

 olive brown of every shade, irregularly spotted and blotched with dusky, or 

 uniform brownish dusky without any visible variegation except on the fore part 

 of the head, where there iS in all an inclination to green ; in some few the whole 

 body above is green. A deep depression under the nostrils. Beneath white or 

 yellowish white, sometimes without spots or spotted with dusky only on the 

 chin, sometimes spotted or blotched all over, or again dusky or black spotted and 

 varied with white. 



Length from nose to the tip of the toes 20 inches. 



Inhabits from oce end of the country to the other. 



R. nigrescexs Agassiz. Agas. Lake Superior p. 879. 



Above very rough with numerous warts, dusky, blackish brown or dark brown, 

 more or less distincly spotted with darker, the spots frequently angular ; a 

 longitudinal cutaneous fold runs on each side of the back from the orbits to the 

 vent. Bo<3y beneath punctate, whitish, very much varied on the chin with black, 

 sides slightly spotted with white : the under and hind part of the thighs spotted 

 or sometimes varied with black, the under side of the tibia? and feet are likewise 

 yellowish with some few spots of black. 



Length 2.5 in., arm 1.9 in., leg 3.9. 



Inhabits Lake Superior, particularly on the north side. 



This species has by some been considered as a variety of the R. fontinalis, to 



