NOTES ON THE EDIBLE FROGS OF THE UNITED STATES AND 

 THEIR ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION. 



Tlie frogs are familiar representatives of the great class of cold- 

 blooded vertebrates known as the Batrachia. The batrachians are 

 intermediate anatomically and physiologically between the fishes and 

 the reptiles (snakes, tnrtles, terrapins, alligators, etc.); they are chiefly 

 characterized by the metamorphosis which the young undergo before 

 assuming the functions and habits of the adults. The young are mostly 

 aquatic and breathe by means of gills, which absorb oxygen from the 

 water. Later the gills disappear and are replaced by lungs. 



The frogs are included in the order Salientia (the leapers), distin- 

 guished by having a short, depressed body and four limbs, the hind 

 pair being much enlarged and adapted to leaping and swimming; the 

 tail, present in the young, disappears with age. In the related orders 

 {Urodela, containing the salamanders and newts; Frotelda, the mud- 

 pupj)ies or water-dogs, and Trachystomafa, the sirens or mud-eels) the 

 tail persists in adult life and the hind limbs are small, but the metamor- 

 phoses and habits otherwise more or less closely resemble the Salientia. 



Associated with the frogs (Ranidw), in the order Salientia, are the 

 families {Bufonidw and Hylidcc) to which the toads and tree frogs 

 belong. The toads are very closely related to the frogs, but differ in 

 having more terrestrial habits and, among other structural features, in 

 the absence of teeth and the possession of an expansible thorax; their 

 uncouth form and the pungent secretions which have brought them 

 immunity ft-om the attacks of other animals have added to the preju- 

 dice against their relatives, the frogs. The tree frogs are characterized 

 by arboreal habits and corresponding changes in structure. More than 

 250 species of true frogs {Ranidw) are known. They are most numer- 

 ous in Africa and the East Indies. 



The edible frogs of the United States belong to the genus Raiia 

 (Latin, a frog). Of these. Professor Cope in his Batrachia of North 

 America (1889) lists 13 species and 6 subspecies or varieties, to which 

 there have since been some additions. 



FOOD VALUE OF FROGS. 



The value of frogs as food is now thoroughly recognized. The meat 

 is white, delicate, and very wholesome and i)alatable. Although eaten 

 at all times, it is in best condition in fall and winter; in spring it is of 



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