FAMILY RANID.E. 63 



Description. Head short ; snout obtusely rounded. Nostrils equidistant between the eyes 

 and snout. Eyes large and prominent. Tympanum small, rounded and polished. Buttocks 

 granulated. Joints of the toes with fleshy tubercles. 



Color. This appears to vary considerably with age : In the young, the general color of the 

 upper part of the body is frequently of a brilliant golden green ; the adult is usually pale 

 brown. The spots along the back vary with age from rufous brown to deep black ; these are 

 more or less of a quadrate form, and larger than the row on the sides, which are often rounded. 

 The spots of the dorsal series become occasionally confluent, producing a dark longitudinal 

 band on each side. A dusky line, more or less obvious, proceeds from the eye to the snout ; 

 other lines parallel with this on the sides of the head. A greenish or yellow longitudinal hne 

 proceeds from the orbit to the posterior part of the body on each side, separating the dorsal 

 from the lateral series. Tympanum of the general color of the body. Beneath soiled white, 

 or tinged with yellow, which increases in intensity towards the tail. Fore legs short, brownish, 

 with dark subocellate spots. Posterior extremities yellow beneath, brown or rufous above, 

 with twelve to thirteen black annular bands margined with lighter ; these bands are more 

 usually uniform dusky greenish or brown. Similar, but oblique bands or spots on the fore 

 legs. Eyes black, with a golden lustrous ring. 



Length 2-0 -3-0. 



This is one of our most beautiful frogs, and is remarkably active. It has a strong and dis- 

 agreeable odor ; and from being used as bait, it is called, in various districts. Pickerel Frog, 

 and also Tiger and Leopard Frog. It occurs along salt marshes, and in wet meadows near 

 ponds and streams. I observed it in the most elevated regions in the northern part of the State. 



Its geographical range, along the coast, extends from Maine to Virginia. Westward, it has 

 been noticed in Ohio. 



THE SHAD FROG. 



Rana halecina. 



plate xx. fig. 49. — (cabinet of the lyceum.) 



Rima halecina. Kalm. Daddin, Hist. Rept. Vol. 8, p. 122. 



Shad Frog. Baetbah, Travels, p. 274. 



R. haUdna. Hablan, Ac. Sciences, Vol. 5, p. 337 ; Med. and Phys. Res. p. 102, and p. 224. 



R. id. HOLBBOOK, Herpetology, Vol. 1, p. 89, pi. 13 ; and Vol. 4, p. 91, pi. 13, 2d Ed. Stoeee, Mass. Rep. p. 237. 



Characteristics. Green, with dark brown ovate spots bordered with yellow ; beneath yellowish 

 white. Length three to four inches. 



Description. Head small, obtusely rounded in front. Eyes prominent. Upper part of the 

 body roughened by several cuticular folds ; posterior part of the thighs granulated. Tym- 

 panum large, plane, circular. Toes palmated. Fingers distinct ; the thumb of the male with 

 a distinct tubercle. Posterior extremities scarcely twice the length of the head and body ; 

 the fourth toe exceedingly long. 



