518 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



glandular folds large; toes well webbed; first finger not extending beyond 

 second; tibia and femur equal 1 Yi body. Length 3 inches. 



18. Rana catesbinna Shaw. 

 Bullfrog. 



The Bullfrog was formerly rather common in sluggish streams and ponds 

 throughout the United States east of Kansas. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is 

 said to have been formerly abundant, but it has been hunted until it is now 

 rare. The method of hunting them was by means of a bicycle lamp at night 

 which so blinded them that they could easily be picked up. 



This is the rarest frog about the lake, only 6 examples having been seen, 

 and of these only one captured. This one was obtained near the Fish Com- 

 mission station while seining for minnows at night. A lantern was in use 

 which probably blinded the frog. A large one was seen November 20 down 

 by Norris Inlet, at the edge of the water. It was somewhat torpid, 

 but managed to escape. On January 7, 1901, one of the ice-fishers saw a 

 large Bullfrog on the bottom in several feet of water off the Gravel Pit. 

 He cut a hole in the ice, let down a hook and pulled out the frog. It was too 

 torpid to move. One was obtained April 15, 1901 (No. 3544.5, U. S. Nat. 

 Mus.). On May 1, a large one was seen in the pond back of the Winfield 

 cottage, and on September 30, 1907, one was seen basking on the shore of 

 the Outlet about 2 miles below Lost Lake. 



The deep, sonorous, bull-like l)ellow of this frog can l)e heard aV)out some 

 portion of the lake shore throughout the summer. They usually are heard 

 over toward the southeast shore of Lost Lake where the miry shore and 

 fringe of rushes give them good protection. During the summer of 1906, 

 one kept bawling almost every day from the neighborhood of the icehouses. 

 They keep up their bawling from May 1 to as late as August 26. 



Like the Green Frog, the Bullfrog rarely strays far from the water, but 

 stays by the shore, ready to jump in at the slightest alarm. There are few 

 animals hunted more persistently than these. They are captured by several 

 methods — by shooting, by use of acetyline light and by the use of red flannel 

 on fish-hooks at which they readily jump, so that in spite of the almost in- 

 accessible bits of shore they frequent, they are unable to hold their own. 



The Bullfrog is said to be very voracious, and is reported to capture and 

 swallow young ducklings. On account of its rarity at the lake, little was 

 learned of its habits. 



The Bullfrog can usually be identified by its size and voice. The following 

 short description will assist in identifying specimens. 



Greenish, of varying shades, with small faint dark spots above; head 

 usually bright pale green; legs l)lotched; tympanum large; toes broadly 

 webbed; femur equal to tibia, not half body. Length 5 to S inclies. 



