256 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The most widely distributed species is the common frog, sprinj^ frog, 

 shad frog, or leopard frog {Rana virescens). It is found from the 

 Atlantic Coast to the Sierra Kevada Mountains, and from Lake Atha- 

 basca, in Canada, to Guatemala, Central Ameriea, but is most abundant 

 in the Eastern States. It reaches a length of about 3i inches, exclusive 

 of legs. The toes are well webbed, but the web does not reach the 

 tips of the fourth toe, as in the common bullfrog. The head is moderate 

 in size, the snout being rather pointed; the tymj^anum (ear) is distinct 

 and nearly as large as the eye. The hind limb being carried forward 

 along the body, the tibio-tarsal articulation reaches nearly the tip of 

 the snout. The color is usually bright green, marked by irregular black, 

 dark-brown, or olive blotches edged with whitish or yellowish. These 

 spots form two irregular rows on the back and one or two more or less 



Green Frog or Sirring Frog {Rana clamata). 



indefinite rows on the sides. The blotching is continued as spots or bars 

 on the posterior extremities. These spots are frequently smaller and 

 more numerous than shown in the specimen figured. The glandular 

 fold which runs from the orbit to the posterior i)art of the body is 

 yellow. The under surface is whitish or light yellow and unsi)otted. 

 The leopard frog passes the tadpole stage the first season, and is more 

 gregarious than the bullfrog or green frog. These considerations are 

 of importance from a culturist's standpoint. 



The green frog or spring frog {JRana clamata) is found throughout the 

 Easteru and Central States and neighboring parts of Canada. The 

 body and limbs are stout and massive, the legs are short, and the head 

 is more rounded than in R. rirescen-'t. The tympanum is very large, 

 though this differs in the sexes, as a rule being larger than the eye iu 



