ClTAP. 4. 



REPTILES OF VERMONT. 



121 



WOODS FROG. 



IIORICON FROG.— KLACK IKOG. 



PICKERING S HYLODES. 



legs : nose pointed ; eyes prominent; ivis 

 dark golden ; tympanum small and near- 

 ly the color of back ; a brownish line 

 from the snout to the eyes ; tubercles on 

 the lower surface of the toes at the joints. 

 Length of the head ami bodj' 3 inches. 



History. — 'This prettily marked frog 

 bears considerable resemblance to the pre- 

 ceding species, and like it varies, in the 

 different specimens, very much in the 

 brilliancy of the colors and the form of 

 the spots. It was named pabistris, by 

 Le Conte, on account of his finding it 

 about salt marshes, but it is equally com- 

 mon about fresh water streams, ponds 

 and marshes. 



W 



THE WOODS FROG. 

 Raiia sijlcutica. — Le Conte. 



Dkscription. — Color varying from light 

 drab to reddish brown above and whitish 

 beneath, often with rust}' patches in the 

 young ; a longitudinal black line commen- 

 ces at the point of the nose, and, widening 

 as it extends backward so as to involve 

 about two thirds of the eye and the whole 

 of the tympanum, terminates at t!ie shoul- 

 der; usually a fine black line along the 

 margin of the upper lip, with a yellow 

 line Separating it from the vitta passing 

 through the eye ; hind legs with broad, ob- 

 scure, blackish, transverse bands. Length 

 when fully grown about 3 inches. 



History. — This frog is found in all parts 

 of the state, and, though frequently met 

 with in moist meadov/s, is much more 

 common in woods, and hence its name, 

 Woods Frog. This, like^the liCopard Frog, 

 is often seen at a great distance from any 

 water. It varies greatly in the intensit}' 

 of its general colors, varying from nearly 

 black to light reddish brown or almost 

 white, but is readily distinguished from 

 all the other species by the black vitta or 

 stripe passing tiirougli the eye and cm- 

 bracing the tympanum. The youuir are 

 usually darkest colored and become light- 

 er as they increase in age and size. 



THE HORICON FROG. 



Rnna horiconensis. — Hole rook. 



Description. — Head large, with snout 

 rather pointed, the whole dusky green 

 above ; nostrils lateral, nearer the snout 

 than the orbits, eyes large, prominent, 

 and beautiful, pupil black, iris reticula- 

 ted, black and golden; tympanum large, 

 bronzed with a light spot in the cenire ; 

 upper lip light bronze, with dusky bars ; 

 above this an indistinct band of bluish 

 white, with black spots, which e.Ktenda 

 from near the snout under the orbit and 

 tympanum, to the shoulders ; lower jaw, 

 chin, and throat white. Body robust, 

 (lark olive, interspersed with irregular 

 black spots, with an elevated cuticular 

 fold on each side, of lighter color, from 

 the orbit to the posterior extremities; ab- 

 domen silvery white. Anterior extremi- 

 ties dusky above, white below ; posterior 

 dark olive above with transverse black 

 bars ; jjosterior part of the thighs granu- 

 lated and flesh colored, feet dusky, above 

 and iielovv. Length 3^ inches — Hoi. 



History. — This frog was found by Dr. 

 Holbrook, at the outlet of lake George, 

 and, if found tliere, tiiere can be no doubt 

 of its existence in Vermont. I think I 

 have met with it in Burlington, but at the 

 time supposed it to be the Spring Frog. 



THE BLACK FROG. 

 Rana melanota. — Raflsesqite. 



Description. — Back olivaceous black ; 

 a yellow streak on the sides of the head ; 

 chin, throat, and inside of the legs whi- 

 tish with black spots ; belly white, im- 

 maculate : total length, 2.^ inches. Raf. 



History. — 1 give this on the authority 

 of Rafinesque, who says that it inhabits 

 lake Champlain and lake George. 



Genus Hy lodes. — Fitzinger. 

 Generic Characters. — Mouih furnished t> ith 

 a tou:2'ie ; leelli in llie upper jaw and palate ; tvrn- 

 panUMi visihie ; extreuiilies slender ; tips of the 

 finders- and toes terminating in sliglilly developed 

 tubercles. 



¥ 



PICKRRLNG\-> HYLODES. 

 HijlodfS Piclu^ingli. 

 Dkscbiptios. — Color varying from \e\- 

 lowish ash to light olive above, with ir- 



Pt I. IG 



