62 New Species of Batracian Reptiles. 
elongated form of the body, snout, legs, and toes; Sth, by the 
posterior nares, which are much larger, and open between two 
transverse palatine ridges in this species, there being but a 
singe ridge in the palustris. wie : 
abit and locality. These are active hunters, and travel a 
considerable distance from the water; are common in the 
vicinity of Philadelphia, in ponds, canals, and marshes 
he following species have not hitherto been well described 
from the living animal. _ 
Sp. 7. Rana pipiens. (Linn.) 
Bull-frog. Bartram, Catesby, Brown, Kalm. 
R. maxima. Catesby, Carolin. vol. 2. p. 72. pl. 72. 
_ R. catesbeiana. Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. 2. part 1. p. 
~-.” t FO. : 
Char. essent. Brown cinereus above, whitish beneath; but- 
tocks mottled; arms and legs striped with black; head and 
fore part of the body more or less green. 
Dimensions. Length of the body from six to ten inches; of 
the hind legs from eight to twelve inches. 
Description. Eyes very prominent, iris golden mottled with 
black ; tympanum large, brownish, with a semilunar border 
posteriorly, extending anteriorly to the eye. Internal border 
of the upper jaw serrated, covered with the upper lip; within 
this Bier is a semilunar ridge ; palate divided by a trans-~ 
verse ridge, interrupted in the middle by two serrated emi- 
nences; borders of the lower jaw not serrated, notched ante- 
riorly ; colour above cinereus-brown, or deep olive-green, 
beneath dirty white; throat greenish-yellow; exterior surface 
of the extremities, or legs, irregularly striped with black. 
Habit. This unwieldy animal frequents ponds, ditches, 
marshes, lakes, and canals; is exceedingly gluttonous, swal- 
lowing young chickens, aquatic birds, small frogs, and tadpoles. 
The late Mr. Bartram states, that, on whipping one, it vomited 
forth three live frogs of considerable size; when confined and 
starved, they have been known to attempt swallowing each 
other; they are most destructive to fish ponds; seldom leave. 
the water for any length of time. Their voice is harsh, some- 
what resembling the suppressed voice of the bull; hence their 
vulgar name, “ bull-frog.??7 When taken, they frequent! 
utter a cry like the squeaking of a rabbit: when whipped, 
they cry like a child. They appear early in April, but are 
not heard to make much noise until the weather becomes 
warm, or during the season of their amours. when they may be 
