RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



75 



Reptiles and Batrachians of Rhode Island. 



BY HERMON C. BUMPUS. 



Number XIII. 



We now come to the frogs proper, of 

 which there are in this state five species, 

 all included in the single genus Raaa. 

 The frogs differ from the tree-toads bj^ hav- 

 ing their toes unprovided with viscous 

 disks and in being aquatic and terrestrial ; 

 they are at once distinguished from the 

 toads in that the upper jaw is provided 

 with teeth, and they are separated from the 

 Scaphiopidffi in being unprovided with the 

 spur so characteristic of that family. 



1. Rana sylvalkal^Q CoxitQ. The Wood 

 Frog is one of our most abundant Ba- 

 trachians, as it is one of the most beau- 

 tiful and interesting. Often the writer has 

 been told of a peculiar looking frog that 

 was seen in some grove, hopping about 

 on the fallen leaves and, though away from 

 water, seemingly perfectly at home. To 

 the quer}' : Had it a black patch on each 

 side of the head ? the answer has always 

 been ''yes." Thishver^^ dark brown patch 

 is characteristic, and though specimens be 

 captured, ranging in length from one to 

 four inches, all will be found to bear this 

 badge. 



Though most abundant in the dry oak 

 groves, the wood frog is not unfrequently 

 met with in open meadows and about 

 brooks and other small bodies of water. 

 In the latter situations it is to be found 

 earh' in March, as it is one of the first 

 frogs to awake from winter sleep and be- 

 gin domestic duties. It is probable that 

 the eggs are well matured before hibernation 

 begins. To pass this period, a warm slope 

 is selected where there is an abundance of 

 fallen leaves, into which the reluctant ani- 

 mal, often not until driven to it by snow, i 

 works a small burrow and awaits the re- j 

 turn of warm weather. 



In its coloring this species is \Qvy varia- 

 ble and is an interesting form on which to 

 note the changes, so characteristic of the 

 members of this class. Not only does a 

 single individual often change its hue in a 

 few minutes of time, but the hues are lim- 

 ited, to a greater or less extent, by the sea- 

 son of the year. In the spring often the 

 play of shades is limited to' the dark 



browns and blacks, though as the season 

 advances, lighter shades are adopted, spe- 

 cimens of a light flesh-color being not infre- 

 quently met with in mid-summer. It is a 

 mistake to maintain that this change of 

 color is influenced by surroundings, as the 

 change often goes on while the surround- 

 ings remain the same. It may be true, 

 however, that the animal not infrequentl}' 

 takes advantage of this power, and thus 

 renders its eflTorts at concealment more 

 effective. 



In its geographical range R. sylvatica 

 is found along the valley of the St. Law- 

 rence as far west as Wisconsin, and along 

 the Atlantic slope to Virginia. The West- 

 ern Wood Frog, a variet}' of the present, 

 extends the habitat to the Pacific Ocean. 



Color of Birds Eyes. 



Golden-ej'e Duck, golden yellow. 



Barrow's golden-eye, golden yellow. 



Butter-ball, ) , 



-D «? 1 1 r brown. 



Bunle-head, ), 



Long-tailed Duck, ) , 



/-wi 1 r brown. 



Old-squaw, ) 



Harlequin Duck, reddish brown. 



Stellar's Eidei-, brown. 



American Eider, 



Pacific Eider, 



King Eider, 



American Black Scoter, brown. 



Velvet Scoter, yellow. 



Surf Duck, pale yellow. 



Ruddy Duck, reddish brown. 



Merganser, carmine. 



Red-breasted Merganser, carmine. 



Hooded Merganser, yellow. 



Common Gannet, white, cream. 



Brown Gannet, white. 



White Pelican, pearly white. 



White Pelican, young, brown or dusky 



Brown Pelican, white. 



Common Cormorant, green. 



Double-crested Cormorant, green. 



Florida Cormorant, 



Violet-green Cormorant, 



Snake Bird, carmine. 



American Swan, hazel. 



Common Puffin, brown. 



Sea-dove, or Dovekie, brown. 



Tufted PuflSn, brownish yellow. 



