Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. 121 



32. Rana catesbiana Shaw. Bull Frog. 



Rana pipiens, Rana mugiens, Rana scapularis, Rana maxima americana 

 aguatica, Rana conspersa, La Grenouille mugissante, La Mugissante 

 ou Grenouille taureau. 



Description.— Head, moderate; snout rounded, sides oblique, canthus 

 rostralis indistinct. Interorbital space either as broad as upper eyelid 

 or much narrower. Nostrils oblique, half way between the eye and the 

 tip of the snout. Vomerine teeth in two small groups, close together, 

 between the choanae; four or five teeth in each patch. Tongue elon- 

 gate, strongly notched behind. Tympanic disk the size of the eye or 

 even larger. The third finger is the longest. No membrane or web. 

 The tibia is not quite half the length of head and body. The fourth toe 

 is the longest; third longer than fifth. Toes webbed to the tips. No 

 dorso-lateral folds. A glandular fold begins at the upper eyelid, runs 

 over and behind the tympanum and in front of the arm, ending on the 

 breast. Between this fold and the tympanum is a sharp groove. Heel 

 reaching to the front of the eye. Male with two internal vocal sacs. 



CoZor.— The color of the upper surfaces in alcohol varies from red- 

 dish to olive and brown. In life the color may be pale yellow, green, brown- 

 ish, or even deep brown. Below, the general color is white or yellowish. 

 On the upper surface spots of brown may occasionally be almost en- 

 tirely missing, but generally there are blotches of brown varying in 

 size and number, sometimes running together. The outlines are not 

 well marked. The sides usually with distinct marblings of brown. 

 The thighs may be spotted on the upper surface; these spots may even 

 form cross bars. The rest of the leg and foot may also be spotted or 

 almost devoid of any brown markings. They may be conspicuously 

 present on the throat, breast, belly and legs. The hinder part of the 

 thighs is usually mottled and blotched. (Hay.) 



Size.— This frog is the largest of our frogs, the body sometimes being 

 8" (203 mm.) in length, and the body and legs together 18" (450 mm.). 

 Head and body 170 mm.; from tip of snout to axilla 62 mm.; femur 

 82 mm.; tibia 80 mm.; tarsus and fourth toe together 116 mm. 



Habitat.— 'Easievn North America to the Eocky Moim- 

 tains. Found everywhere in suitable localities in Mis- 

 souri in abundance. 



Habits. — This species lives in the waters of our brooks, 

 rivers and lakes. It never strays away from the vicinity 

 of the water in search of food. Its loud voice has given it 

 its popular name of "Bull-Frog." Dr. J. H. Gamier in 

 his Reptiles of Canada says that he has heard the Bull- 

 frog at a distance of five or eight miles. Authors tell us 



