92 RANA HALECINA. 



The nostrils are lateral, and placed half way between the anterior part of the 

 orbit and the snout. The mouth is large, and the palate armed with two groups 

 of small teeth. The eyes are large and prominent; the pupil is black, the iris of 

 a brilliant golden colour, with a longitudinal black band passing through it. The 

 tympanum is large, and finely bronzed, with a yellowish spot on its centre. In the 

 male, the skin at the angles of the mouth is loose and folded over the vocal 

 vesicle on each side. 



The superior surface of the body is bright yellowish-green, marked with ovate 

 spots of dark olive, margined with bright yellow: these spots are disposed in two 

 rows on the back, and in two others less distinct and less extensive on the sides. 

 From the posterior part of each orbit runs an elevated line or cutaneous fold, of a 

 bright yellow, terminating near the posterior extremity of the body. The inferior 

 surface is silver-white at the throat, and yellowish-white on the abdomen. 



The anterior extremities are bronze-green above, marked with several blotches 

 of dark olive, one of which is very regularly found at the elbow; their inferior 

 surface is whitish. The fingers are four in number, and distinct; the thumb of the 

 male animal is furnished with a tubercle. The posterior extremities are very long, 

 bright green above, marked with dark olive oblong blotches and transverse bars; 

 the inferior surface is pale flesh-colour and quite smooth, except at the posterior 

 part of the thigh, where it is granulated. The toes are five in number, and well 

 palmated, but not to their tips, as in the Bull-frog; the fourth is of great length. 



Dimensions. Length of body from the snout to the vent, 3 inches 2 lines; of 

 the thigh, 1 inch 7 lines; of the leg, 1 inch 8 lines; of the tarsus and toes, 2 inches 

 2 lines. 



Geographical Distribution. The Rana halecina is perhaps the most widely 

 distributed of all the Frogs of the United States, and may be regarded as the 

 representative of the Common Frog (Rana esculenta) of Europe. I have 

 observed it in all the Atlantic states, from the White Mountains of New Hamp- 



