TAILLESS BATRACHIANS 207 



long, glandular folds ; the tympanum is smaller, measuring 

 about two-thirds the size of the eye, while the toes are 

 not quite so fully webbed. The upper parts are grey, 

 brown, or olive, with large dark streaks or spots. The 

 tadpoles attain a maximum length of five inches. 



The Speckled Frog, or African Bull Frog, R. adspersa, 

 of South and East Africa, which attains just as large a size 

 as the American Bull Frog, in its heavy form and rather 

 short limbs, somewhat resembles a toad ; it agrees with 

 R. catesbiana in its rounded snout, and with R. tigrina in 

 the skin of the back being covered with numerous longi- 

 tudinal glandular folds. The tympanum is not quite as 

 large as the eye. The colour above is usually olive, 

 often with a light vertebral line. This frog is provided 

 with a large shovel-like tubercle, which is situated on the 

 inner side of the foot, which enables it to burrow, and 

 captive specimens may remain underground for months 

 on end, only appearing above ground when hungry. 



The Gopher Frog, R. capita, of Florida, a moderate- 

 sized species, is also stout and toad-like in appearance, 

 having a very large head, prominent eyes, and an enormous 

 mouth. The very stout body is covered with numerous 

 elongate warts. The colour varies in the same individual 

 from a very pale grey, with large dark spots, to a uniform 

 dark brown. Except during the breeding season, when it 

 frequents small ponds, the Gopher Frog lives in the burrows 

 of the tortoise, Testudo polyphemus. Miss Dickerson states 

 that the frog sits at the mouth of the burrow watching for 

 prey, and that it disappears with such rapidity at the 

 approach of danger that, not only is it seldom seen, but, 

 to be captured, has to be dug out of the burrow It feeds 

 principally on toads. 



