240 FROGS, TOADS, AND SALAMANDERS 



Some of the members of the salamander group are known 

 as newts. These small amphibians frequent ditches and 

 sluggish water and subsist mainly upon insects and worms. 

 Although usually considered venomous, they are harmless. 

 Some salamanders are aquatic and some terrestrial. Those 

 hving in water have flattened taUs, while the terrestrial 

 forms have cylindrical tails. 



Most of the land salamanders bring forth their young 

 alive, while those inhabiting the water lay eggs which are 

 usually attached to a submerged plant stem. 



Frogs. — The most common frogs in the United States 

 are the bullfrog, green frog, and the leopard frog. Of 

 these, the green frog is probably the most familiar, al- 

 though, in many localities, the leopard frog may be more 

 common. The cheerful and industrious croakings of these 

 frogs may be heard in the spring issuing from every swamp 

 and pond in the neighborhood. Many frogs pass the win- 

 ter deep in the mud at the bottoms of pools. 



The bullfrog is so well known that it hardly needs de- 

 scription. It is noted for its large size and great, thick 

 thighs which furnish such tempting delicacies for epicures. 

 It varies from five to six inches in length and has a deep 

 bass voice. 



The bullfrog is always found near water into which it can 

 jump when disturbed. On the other hand, the little wood 

 frog, which is only about one and a half inches long, Uves 

 in the woods and depends for safety upon its resemblance 

 to dead leaves. It can leap several feet at a time, but is 

 soon exhausted by its efforts and is easily captured. 



Tree toads. — We have in the United States several 

 species of amphibians known as tree frogs and tree toads. 

 As a matter of fact, these little animals belong neither to 



