64 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Brassy or bronze green above. Orbits above, with an oval black spot. On the 

 dorsal surface, two series of large irregular roundish dark olive spots, margined with yellow ; 

 these spots are occasionally confluent. A bronzed or yellow stripe on each side, proceeds 

 from the eye to the posterior extremity ; another yellow stripe extends from the eye to the 

 angle of the mouth. The thighs and legs with dark olive oblong transverse patches, resem- 

 bling bands. A few oblique dark oblong bars on the fore legs. Tympanum bronzed ; yel- 

 lowish in the centre. Beneath silvery, becoming tinged with yellow on the abdomen. Eyes 

 black, with a golden ring. 



Length, 3-0-4-0. 



This beautiful species is extensively distributed over the whole Union. It abounds in moist 

 places, and feeds chiefly on insects. From its simultaneous appearance in the spring with our 

 common Shad (A. sapidissima), it is frequently called Shad Frog. In Massachusetts, they 

 are better known under the name of Leopard Frogs. The Swedish colonists named them 

 Sill-hoppetosser, or Herring-hoppers, from their appearance at the commencement of the 

 herring season ; and this, we presume, suggested the latin trivial name. 



THE WOOD FROG. 



Rana sylvatica. 



PLATE XXI. FIG. 54. Adult. — PLATE XX. FIG. 50. Young. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Rana sylvatica. Le Conte, Ann. Lyceum, N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 282. 



R. pensylvanica. Harlan, Am. Jour. Vol. 10, p. 60. 



R. sylvatica. Id. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 221. 



R. id. Holbkook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 1, p. 95, pi. 15 ; and Vol. 4, p. 99, pi. 24, 2d Ed. Storee, Mass. Rep. p. 239. 



Wood Frog, R. Sylvatica. Kirtland, Zoology of Ohio, p. 190. 



Characteristics. Reddish brown ; a dark dilated stripe from the snout through the eye, and 

 including the tympanum. Young, olive brown or green. Length two and 

 a half inches. 



Description. Body slender. Head small ; nose obtusely rounded. Eyes large and promi- 

 nent; tympanum small, circular. Thighs granulated behind. Posterior extremities twice 

 the length of the head and body, palmated. 



Color. Reddish brown above, resembling in color a withered leaf; this color is bounded on 

 each side by a yellow and often interrupted narrow line from the orbits to the posterior extre- 

 mity of the body. Flanks mottled with greenish and yellow. A dark brown band proceeds 

 from the snout, and dilating backwards, includes half the eye and all the tympanum ; this 

 band is bordered below with a light yellowish line. Fore legs reddish brown, with obscure 

 darker blotches. Hind legs of a similar color above, with two or more distinct transverse 

 dark bands ; beneath soiled white. Under side of the extremities light brown. 



