AUGUST. 265 



C. — I see several frogs hopping about among the grass. 



F. — Yes : this species, the Meadow Frog, f liana Hale- 

 cina-?) is fond of lurking in the long grass, whence 'the 

 mower disturbs it : it is very handsome, if we are divested 

 of that nursery prejudice which looks on every reptile as 

 ugly and abominable ; its limbs and upper parts are whitish 

 with large irregular spots of dark olive-brown, and the 

 whole under parts are bright orange red. I have never seen 

 it near water."" 



C. — What is this curious circular organ, like a round scale, 

 on each side of the neck ? I observe it in all frogs. 



F. — That is the organ of hearing. Frogs have no exter- 

 nal ear, but this round membrane which you see, is the 

 tympanum or drum of the ear, tightly stretched over the 

 auditory canal. 



C. — What other species of this genus have we ? 



F. — There is the great Bull-frog (Rana PipiensJ^ so 

 called from its deep hollow voice, resembling the short bel- 

 lowing of a bull ; it is of a fine green, spotted with black. 

 It resides chiefly in water, and may often be seen sitting 

 in a shallow pool, with its muzzle just out of water ; con- 

 tinuing in the same position without the slightest motion 

 for hours together. Then, I believe, there is another smaller 

 species, inhabiting the marshes, of a dusky brown colour, 

 but whether this is the young of either of the others, I am 

 not certain. (Rana Clamatis ? ) 



C. — I have seen in the summer evenings a large toad in 

 the garden, and near the house, covered with large reddish 

 brown warts and excrescences, adding by no means to the 

 beauty of its appearance (Bu/o Cognatus). Its solemn 

 look as it sits upon a stone, sucking in its throat, and 



* I am almost sure this is not HaUcina^ but I cannot find in Dr. Har- 

 lan's paper on the Reptiles any other to which it bears any resemblance, 

 though it must be found in New England. — P. H. G. 



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