23 



Rana sylvatica Le Conle. 

 Wood-Frog. 



This frog is common in our woods during the summer, most 

 specimens being of a light color somewhat resembling fallen 

 leaves, and all with a black to reddish brown band along the 

 side of the head. During the breeding season the males are 

 nearly black, with a prominent yellowish white line at each 

 side of back. At this period their voices can be heard at quite 

 a distance, resembling at times the barking or yapping of a 

 small dog when close at hand. At a greater distance I have 

 taken their combined voices for the rumbling of an approach- 

 ing trolley-car. 



They appear as early as March 10. I have found numbers 

 in pools in the woods where the winter ice had not half melted. 

 The eggs are laid in masses about three inches in diameter and 

 hatch in about six days. The tad poles are very dark above 

 and peculiarly bronzed underneath. I have found young 

 adults half an inch in length. The metamorphosis is generally 

 complete when a little above 'this size. In colder waters the 

 tad poles are found during the following winter, and such 

 specimens must undergo retardation of metamorphosis until 

 the following spring. After breeding they soon take to the 

 woods, where they remain until autumn, when they hibernate 

 in mellow soil about two feet from the surface. 



Length about two inches. Body flat and broad. Limbs long 

 and slender. Head pointed and broad. Fore feet not webbed. 

 Hind feet webbed except terminal phalanges of all the toes 

 and last two of the longest. 



Rana catesbiana Shaw. 

 Buixfrog ; Jug-o'-Rum; Bloody- Nouns. 



This is the Rana pipiens of DeKay. 



These well-known frogs are not seen as often as the spring- 

 frogs, as they prefer large bodies of water, where they are 

 more inaccessible. 



Body very thick and clumsy. Head wide, legs short and 



