Ranidae 



unusually long. (Fig. 253.) The first is thickened at the base 

 (male). 



Range: RanaDraytonii is reported from various parts of 

 California, also from the mountains of Lower California. (From 

 Petaluma, El Dorado, Presidio, Fort Tejon, Carmel, San Fran- 

 cisco, and South San Francisco, California.) 



This Western species, when half-grown, is a frog of much 

 beauty of form as well as of colouring and texture of skin. It 

 is very alert and intelligent-looking, and becomes tame in cap- 

 tivity, (Fig. 251.) When it has attained its full size, it is 

 much less attractive in appearance. The eye, although very 

 lustrous, seems too small for the size of the frog; the skin has 

 toughened and coarsened until it is leathery in appearance, and 

 is tubercular in structure (see Fig. 255), and the colouring is 

 much less delicate and beautiful. 



This frog is hardy. It is partially aquatic in its habits, 

 remaining in shallow water much of the time and taking food 

 from under the water. It eats fish greedily, as does the Eastern 

 Bullfrog, and therefore must prove a menace in fish-ponds. 



It is a very awkward frog, because of the massive build 

 and great length of its hind legs. (Figs. 255 and 256.) When 

 walking, it is ludicrous in appearance, and it is still more 

 ridiculous when it captures a fish from under the surface of the 

 water and swallows it. The frog tries to brace himself on the 

 long hind legs so as to use the hands, both at the same time to 

 keep the fish away from the angles of the jaws and to push it 

 into the mouth. To brace himself against slippery mud is not 

 easy, and besides, the frog loses his balance because both hands 

 are lifted at once, so he makes a great kicking and splashing 

 before he finally swallows the fish. This frog eats not only 

 fish, but also various water-insects, tadpoles, and smaller frogs. 

 This species is said to be one of the most cannibalistic of our 

 North American frogs. He eats worms and air insects, also; 

 among the latter, sow-bugs are said to be favourites. 



Both male and female " talk " vigorously in a low-pitched 

 musical voice, when they are taken in the hand so that the feet 

 are unsupported. There is no appearance of distended vocal 

 sacs when the frog croaks. 



214 



