The Common Leopard Frog 



above the arm. They start from a point somewhat below the jaw 

 in front, and extend upward on the sides of the frog, nearly or 

 quite to the lateral fold. (See Fig. 9, p. 20). When the pouch 

 collapses, the skin is left wrinkled and baggy in the given region. 

 (Colour Plate XI, male frog.) The glandular band extending 

 backward over the shoulder, marks the margin of a loose, drooping 

 fold of skin. The sound produced is a soft guttural in quality, low- 

 pitched (about E, an octave below E of the first line), and vibrant, 



The female has a voice, also, but it is less loud and vigorous. 

 There is no distention of skin over the arm region. 



The Leopard Frog makes a most interesting pet to keep for a 

 few days in a small moss-garden enclosed with wire. He is very 

 handsome and alert-looking. He eats worms and insects of all 

 kinds. He will not take fish or other food from under water. It 

 is reported that the Leopard Frog sometimes eats snails. He 

 sings vigorously whenever handled, but, more curious still, he 

 sings in low purring tones when water is poured gently on his 

 back. He evidently likes it, and gives the same response that 

 the cat gives when its fur is stroked. 



The Leopard Frog (Fig. 197) is generally between three and 

 four inches in length. The white throat is in constant rhythmic 

 motion. The frog breathes just as the toad' does, though less 

 rapidly. The usual colour of the Leopard Frog of the eastern 

 United States is metallic green above and pearly white below, 

 sometimes becoming yellowish on the posterior portion. There 

 are two prominent bronze or yellow folds ot skin extending almost 

 parallel to each other from the eyes to the posterior end of the 

 body. (Figs. 197, 2 1 2, and 2 1 7.) Between the lateral folds are two 

 rows of rounded olive-green or brown spots, each circled by a 

 narrow line of yellow or white. Below the folds along each side 

 of the body there are two irregular rows of similar spots. There 

 is a dark spot above each eye, and there may be a dark spot in 

 front of the eyes. (Figs. 200 and 217.) The eye itself is medium 

 in size, with a wide orange-gold iris and a black pupil. A promi- 

 nent black band passes lengthwise through the iris. There is a 

 yellow or bronze stripe, which passes from the end of the muzzle 

 to the shoulder, and another shorter one from the nostril to the eye. 

 The upper jaw, which protrudes over the lower, is white, bordered 



' For breathing of the toad, see p. 76. 



