154 



Equant JLltr 



spots on the irides of the eyes ; they are 

 very striking, and at once command our 

 attention. The animal may grow to be 

 some four inches in length, and it is a 

 known fact that the female is larger than 

 the male. Some of the books give other 

 measurements very fully, and its topo- 

 graphical anatomy has likewise been 

 touched upon by authors. Individuals 



Figure 2 and 3. Dorsal and ventral views of the 



same specimen shown in Figure 1 



From Life 



vary in their general coloration, some 

 being of a light, others of a dark brown. 

 Beneath, it is glistening white, the throat 

 and hind limbs being shaded with pale 

 gray, the former beautifully speckled 

 with spots of various forms ; these occur 

 also on the limbs, while but few are 

 found elsewhere. Specimens have been 

 taken having the upper parts of a yellow- 



ish shade, or even grayish or light pur- 

 plish. Dorsally, the warts are yellowish, 

 and the lateral folds brilliant orange, 

 while much dark speckling is seen on this 

 part of the body, as well as on the lips, 

 the jaws being unusually massive. The 

 dark tympanum upon either side has a 

 light-colored spot occupying its centre. 

 Limbs barred with dark brown trans- 

 versely, five of these being very conspicu- 

 ous on the legs. 



Taken altogether, it is a most striking 

 species with respect to its appearance, 

 and certainly a very peculiar one in re- 

 gard to its habits. So well is this all 

 shown in the figures that any further de- 

 scription here would consume space to 

 no end. It is readily distinguished from 

 other species of our frogs, as from R. 

 areolata, and still more so from R. pip- 

 iens or R. pahistris. 



At either shoulder the Gopher frog has 

 a large vocal pouch, capable of inflation 

 to a marked degree. These pouches are 

 found only in the male, and they give, a 

 most unusual appearance when fully in- 

 flated. 



Gopher frogs are very clever at hiding, 

 and when doing so they change color at 

 will, assuming a whitish tinge, or brown, 

 or deep purple, to intense black. Some- 

 times, when handled, the animal secrets 

 from the skin a peculiar secretion, which 

 has by no means a pleasant odor. 



Mary C. Dickerson, a great authority 

 on our batricians, has pointed out in her 

 "Frog Book" that this "frog is so wary 

 and has such strong habits of hiding, that 

 but few specimens have come to light. 

 The wariness of this species has resulted 

 in a habit of spasmodic instead of con- 

 tinuous activity. Its method, like that of 

 the cricket grasshopper, is ludicrous to 

 observe. It remains absolutely quiet for 

 minutes at a time, relying on its protec- 

 tive coloration, until the danger is well- 

 nigh upon it. When the movement comes, 



