86 RANA CLAMITANS. 



fold, elevated to form a ridge, begins behind each orbit, runs along the body, and 

 is lost near the posterior extremities. The whole surface of the throat and 

 abdomen is silver-white. 



The anterior extremities are olive above and delicate white below; there are 

 four fingers distinct, not palmated; and the thumb of the male is furnished with a 

 tubercle at certain seasons. The posterior extremities are very long, dusky 

 above, with transverse bars or blotches of darkest brown; the inferior surface of 

 the thighs is silver-white, the posterior half granulated; the nates are mottled 

 black and white, the former colour predominating. The inferior surface of the 

 legs is white; there are five toes, well palmated, but not to their extremities, 

 the fourth very long. 



Dimensions. Length of body, 3 inches 2 lines; of thighs, 1 inch 7 lines; of leg, 

 1 inch 8 lines; of tarsus and toes, 2 inches 2 hues: total, 8 inches 7 lines. 



Habits. The Rana clamitans lives in water, or on the banks of ponds and 

 rivers, far from which it is never seen. It is exceedingly timid, and makes 

 enormous leaps from the banks into the water when disturbed, and utters, at the 

 same time, a short cry. Bosc says it is the most active of all our frogs, and if 

 once made prisoner and allowed to escape, it cannot again be easily retaken. 



Geographical Distribution. The Rana clamitans is found in the low coun- 

 tries of Carolina and Georgia, farther north than this I have never seen it, 

 though Dr. Harlan says it is common in Pennsylvania. This is most probably a 

 southern species, and reaches to the Gulf of Mexico, where it represents the Rana 

 fontinalis, which is a northern animal. 



General Remarks. The Rana clamitans was first described by Bosc, from 

 specimens taken in the neighbourhood of Charleston, in manuscript notes commu- 

 nicated to Latreille, who published it under the name it here bears. 



