AMPHIBIANS 



Frogs — RanidcB 



Leopard frog, meadow frog, Rana pipiens. — The leopard 

 frog is green or olive green and bronze above, and on its back, 

 sides, and legs there are prominent dark spots rimmed with 



Fig. 305. — Leopard frog, Rana pipiens. 



white. The skin folds or ridges along its back are yellowish 

 or bronzy; it is pure white beneath (Fig. 305). The pickerel 

 frog sometimes confused with this one is washed with bright 

 yellow beneath. 



Habitat. — This is one of the most beautiful of frogs, and the 

 common one of the marshes, pond sides, and cat-tail pools. 

 It hibernates in the bottom mud of pools and under the plant 

 litter of brooks where it is often found in winter. 



Breeding habits. — The leopard frog choir is the second one 

 to enter the swamp chorus in spring. By the last of April, 

 leopard frogs have assembled in the ponds and their low, 

 guttural croaking can be heard clearly contrasted with the 

 shrill notes of the peeper. From mid-April to early May it is 

 easy to observe their croaking, either at night or in the day- 

 time. The male frogs, lounging half-submerged in the water, 

 appear to take a long breath, after which they suddenly 

 inflate the large vocal sac over each shoulder, which swells 



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