24 



thick. Under Rana clamata I have mentioned the lack of lat- 

 eral folds, which renders it easy to distinguish the adult from 

 that of the latter species. This is by far the largest of our 

 frogs. A chemist of reputation told me of one captive in his 

 laboratory, measuring nineteen inches from tip of snout to 

 extremity of hind leg. The longest specimen in the U. S. 

 National Museum would reach about seventeen inches thus 

 extended, and this may be taken as about the maximum 

 growth. 



Color above olive brown, with rather uniformly distributed 

 darker blotches. The young adults have rather sharply-de- 

 fined black spots on a lighter brownish surface. The blotches 

 become more distinctly transverse bars on legs. Under sur- 

 face silvery white, everywhere somewhat brownish mottled. 

 The skin above is moderately rough and the hinder faces of 

 buttocks granulated. The fore feet are without any web. 

 The hind feet are fully webbed from tip to tip of the toes, 

 forming a powerful swimming organ. 



Voice a heavy bass, which may be heard for miles. Cope 

 says it may be imitated by uttering a bass br-wum several 

 times in succession with a hoarse voice while standing in front 

 of an empty cask. The country boys say the frog calls " be- 

 drowned " and " more rum." 



Eggs, May and June. Time of metamorphosis, about two 

 years. 



