Snakes and Frogs and Their Relatives 



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TWENTY THOUSAND EGGS AT A TIME 



The bullfrog gets its name from its sonorous call. Though the female lays as many 

 as twenty thousand eggs at one time, the tadpole takes quite long (three years) 

 to develop into an adult. Protective coloration and unusual jumping ability safe- 

 guard the frog against most enemies; but the demand for frogs' legs as a delicacy 

 has made inroads on our frog population. 



Under the throat of the male is a thin membrane that swells 

 to surprising proportions as he blows air into it, then closes the 

 openings to his nose and forces the air up and down his gullet. 

 As early as March you may hear the din raised by a number of 

 peepers going through their vocal gymnastics. 



There are several reasons why the spring peeper is able to elude 

 most observers. Aside from its tiny size, it changes color to blend 

 with its background. In less than half an hour the dark cross on 

 its back can alter to a mottled effect, and its body tone can change 

 from a pale yellowish brown to leaf-green, earth-brown, or even 

 the brighter tones of flower petals! 



Another point is that the spring peeper spends a great deal of 

 time in trees, which it can climb easily because of its marvelously 

 adapted toes. Each toe ends in a rounded disk that secretes a sticky 

 substance so effective that a peeper can walk up a vertical pane 

 of glass. 



