68 



from the snout to the shoulder. Upper and lower lips are mottled. The 

 arms are spotted. The hind limbs are conspicuously barred from the 

 groin to the toes. The posterior surface of the thighs is bright yellow, 

 spotted with brown. 



This species is found from New Brunswick west to Iowa, and south to 

 Louisiana. It has been reported to me as occurring at Brookville 

 (Hughes J, and at Bloomington (Bollman). I have not seen the speci- 

 mens from either of these places. In the State Normal School collection 

 are two specimens that were taken at Lake Maxinkuckee. I have two 

 specimens taken at Irvington, which I refer to this species with some 

 doubt. 



I have been able to learn little about the special habits of this frog. 

 Prof. Cope tells us that it is a more solitary frog than B pipiens , that it 

 prefers cold springs, and that it is seen in the grass more frequently than 

 any others of our frogs. Its note is likewise said to be a low prolonged 

 croak, somewhat resembling the sound of tearing some coarse material- 

 Some authors tell us that it has a strong, disagreeable smell. 



Bana areolata circulosa, B. and D. 



Soosier Frog. 



Rana circulosa, Rice and Davis, 1878, 67, ed. ii, 355; Cope, 1889, 51^ 

 413, with figures. 



Rana areolata, as defined by Prof. Cope, is made up of four subspecies. 

 Of these three belong to the Southern States, the fourth, circulosa, was 

 originally described from specimens taken in Benton County, Ind. The 

 species is characterized by a large, broad head, a short leg, imperfect pal- 

 mation, and its peculiar coloration. The length of the head is one- 

 third or m(»re of the length, and its breadth is equal to, or greater than, 

 its length. The leg, when pressed to the side, brings the heel only to the 

 eye. The web is deeply scalloped and leaves three phalanges of the 

 fourth toe free. Above, on each side, is a strong glandular fold, and be- 

 tween these there are several thin folds. 



In circulosa the head is one-third of the length to the vent, and quite 

 flat. The tympanic disk is oval or circular and only one-half the diameter 

 of the eye. Between the dorso-lateral folds are six to eight narrow folds, 

 and these may disappear in alcohol. 



The striking thing about these frogs is their coloration. The spots 

 found on the upper surfaces of their relatives, R. pipiens and palustris, 

 have here become so expanded that they cover nearly the whole area. 

 The ground color of yellowish is reduced to a network of narrow lines, or 

 circles. Posteriorly in large specimens the lines of the net-work are 

 broader and browner, and have a border of a lighter color. The spots 

 themselves are of a reddish brown color. No light streaks about the 



