Ranidae 



Structure: The body is 

 flat. (Fig. 243.) The head is 

 broad and pointed. The skin 

 is relatively smooth and moist. 

 There are a few tubercles on the 

 lower sides and posterior back. 

 (Fig. 250.) The lateral folds 

 are conspicuous. (Colour Plate 

 XIV.) The foot is light-col- 

 oured and delicate. The toes 

 are long and slender. The web 

 is extensive, but it leaves free 

 the last two joints of the fourth 

 toe and the last joint of each of 

 the other four toes. 



Range: Rana sylvatica is 

 found in damp woods through- 

 out the northeastern United 

 States; it is not found west 

 of the Great Plains, south of 

 In June the Wood Frog is found where South Carolina, or north of 



the iragrant pyrola stands on its carpet ^^ , ^ 



of oak leaves and pine-needles. Quebec, Canada. 



>''^'yf^{ 



Most of our frogs invite us to ponds or brooks, or river 

 margins, if we would find them, but the Wood Frog (Figs. 242 

 to 245, and Colour Plate XIV) takes us to the shade of the pines 

 and oaks of the forest. 



It is June. The chestnut trees are waving fragrant plumed 

 tops. The red-eyed vireo, now in one tree, and then in another, 

 is talking incessantly of the beauty of things. A slight wind 

 sways the curving branches of low-growing hickories and chest- 

 nuts, their leaf shadows falling cool on the moss and brown 

 leaves below. As we walk up the wooded hillside, getting our 

 garments covered with bedstraw burrs, tiny frogs jump out 

 from our feet, in front, at the right, and at the left. But stand 

 still, and you will see only the brown pine-needles and oak leaves, 

 the erect, fragrant pyrola, and the nodding waxy pipsissewa. 

 The frogs are small, and their colours are so thoroughly matched 

 with those of their surroundings as to make them almost invisible. 



206 



