Ranidae 



above by black (which may be broken into spots). The black, in 

 turn, has above it a yellowish glandular fold, which extends back- 

 ward to the shoulder. There are two well-marked folds of skin 

 between the bright-coloured lateral folds. There may be three or 

 four dark cross-bands on the thigh, that are continuous (when the 

 leg is folded) with similar bands on the lower leg and foot. 



This description of colour is generally true, although there is 

 often great divergence from it. As we walk across the meadows 

 or skirt the marshes in August, hearing the summer song of the 

 meadow-grasshoppers in the tall sedges and grasses, we can 

 scarcely find two Leopard Frogs that look alike in details. The 

 variation in the colour and pattern of their dress is pronounced. 



The ground colour may be brown, or light grey, or green, 

 either light and metallic or very dark. The space between the 

 lateral folds may be green and the space below brown. The folds 

 may be light golden-yellow or dark bronze. The spots may be 

 ringed with green when the background is brown. The greatest 

 variety appears in the spots and their arrangement. They may 

 be small and round, or larger and irregular. They may be in two 

 distinct rows, or sometimes in three, or even grown together so 

 as to form irregular cross-bands between the lateral folds. We 

 may find a frog that has the spots of one row distinct and those of 

 the others so blended as to form a band running lengthwise along 

 the back. There may or may not be a spot on the end of the 

 muzzle in front of the eyes. The spots on the sides may encroach 

 on the lateral folds. Finally, the cross-bands on the thigh may be 

 incomplete or broken into irregular spots. There is likely to be 

 an irregular black band extending upward on the lower arm from 

 the base of the fifth finger. There m.ay be a similar black band on 

 the sole of the foot from the fourth and fifth toes to the heel. 

 The female usually has some grey or brown on the under surface. 

 The colour of the iris changes under different light conditions. 

 In hibernation, the orange-gold becomes darker and darker until 

 the iris can scarcely be distinguished from the black pupil, but 

 under the influence of strong light the bright metallic colour 

 returns. 



The frog shown at the left in Fig. 197 is a typical specimen. 

 This frog is one that was found at the bottom of the fifteen-foot 

 entrance of a drive-well. It was impossible to tell how long 

 he had been a prisoner, but something had tamed the poor crea- 



174 



