232 BIRDS OF THE PRAIRIES. 
The whole length of the horned frog is 
from two to five inches—body flatted horizon- 
“tally, oval-shaped, and between one and two 
- inches wide in the middle. The back is 
- beautifully variegated, with white and brown, 
and sometimes a yellowish purple. The 
belly is whitish and covered with brown 
specks. It acquired its name from a pair of 
short horns projecting from the top of the 
head—with other smaller horny protube- 
rances upon the head and body. It has a 
short tail, which gives it a lizard-like appear- 
ance. It is a very inoffensive creature, and 
may be handled with perfect impunity, not- 
withstanding its uncouth appearance, and 
sometimes vicious demonstrations. 
- As birds mostly incline to the timbered re- 
gions, there is but a scant variety to be met 
with upon the plains. About the Cross Tim- 
bers and indeed on all the brushy creeks, espe- 
cially to the southward, are quantities of wild 
turkeys, which are frequently seen ranging in 
large flocks in the bordering prairies. That 
species of American grouse, knowm west as 
the prairie-hen, is very abundant on the fron- 
tier, and is quite destructive, in autumn, to 
the prairie corn-fields. This fowl is rarely 
seen over two hundred miles beyond the bor- 
der. Of partridges, the same is true; but 
their number is quite limited anywhere be- 
yond the precincts of the settlements. About 
the streams there are different species of geese 
and ducks, as well as both sand-hill and white 
cranes: also flocks of a species of plover and 
Es 
