G2 New Species of Batracian Reptiles. 
elongated form of the body, snout, legs, and toes; 5th, by the 
posterior nares, which are much larger, and open between two 
transverse palatine ridges in this species, there being but a 
eR, ridge in the palustris. 
abit and locality. These are active hunters, and travel a 
considerable distance from the water; are common in the 
vicinity of Philadelphia, in ponds, canals, and marshes. 
The following species have not hitherto been well described 
from the living animal. 
Sp. 7. Rana pipiens. (Linn.) 
Bull-frog. Bartram, Catesby, Brown, Kalm. 
R. maxima. Catesby, Carolin. vol. 2. p. 72. pl. 72. 
R. catesbeiana. Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. 2. part 1. p. 
106. pl. 33. 
Char. essent. Brown cinereus above, whitish beneath; but- 
tocks mottled; arms and legs striped with black; head and 
fore part of the body more or less green. 
Dimensions. Length of the body from six to ten inches; of 
the hind legs from eight to twelve inches. 
Description. Eyes very prominent, iris golden mottled with 
black; tympanum large, brownish, with a semilunar border 
posteriorly, extending anteriorly to the eye. Internal border 
of the upper jaw serrated, covered with the upper lip; within 
this border 1s a semilunar ridge ; palate divided by a trans- 
verse ridge, interrupted in the middle by two serrated emi- 
nences; borders of the lower jaw not serrated, notched ante- 
riorly ; colour above cinereus-brown, or deep olive-green, 
beneath dirty white; throat greenish-yellow ; exterior surface 
of the extremities, or legs, irregularly striped with black. 
Habit. This unwieldy animal frequents ponds, ditches, 
marshes, lakes, and canals; is exceedingly gluttonous, swal- 
lowing young chickens, aquatic birds, small frogs, and tadpoles. 
The late Mr. Bartram states, that, on whipping one, it vomited 
forth three live frogs of considerable size; when confined and 
starved, they have been known to attempt swallowing each 
other; they are most destructive to fish ponds; seldom leave 
the water for any length of time. Their voice is harsh, some- 
what resembling the suppressed voice of the bull; hence their 
vulgar name, “ bull-frog.”> When taken, they frequently 
utter a cry like the squeaking of a rabbit: when whipped, 
they cry like a child. They appear early in April, but are 
not heard to make much noise until the weather becomes 
warm, or during the season of their amours, when they may be 
