VALUE OF FROGS 135 



fifty voices are raised in tuneful chorus from the surface of 

 one small pond, each one trilling and piping at the rate of 

 sixty to the minute, without missing a note, the effort is cer- 

 tain to attract attention, in case there is any to be bestowed. 



This species is one of the handsomest of our water frogs, 

 and is colored to match its marshy home. Its upper ground- 

 color is a brilliant green, broken up by irregular black blotches 

 that are bordered with dull white, with dark bars across the 

 legs. The head-and-body length is about 23^ inches. 



The Bull Frog 1 is known by its deep-bass voice and its 

 great size when adult. Beside the preceding species, this 

 creature is a giant, and it is small wonder that the eyes of 

 epicures rest covetously upon its massive thighs. Its upper 

 color varies from bright green to dark olive-brown, marked 

 with small and rather inconspicuous dark spots. Its length 

 varies from 5 to 8 inches, and it is so well known that further 

 description is unnecessary. 



As an indication of the extent to which frogs' legs are con- 

 sumed as food in the United States, the following statistics of 

 the United States Fish Commission are interesting. In 1899 

 the total quantity of frog meat recorded in the markets was 

 472,415 pounds, valued at $74,690. The following were the 

 chief sources of the supply: 



POUNDS ■WORTH 



Missouri ' 237,608 $29,313 



Arkansas 79,760 10,162 



California 20,687 20,638 



In 1895 New York handled 69,774 pounds, valued at 



$6,572. 



1 Ra'na cates-bi-an'a. 



