240 FROGS, TOADS, AND SALAMANDERS 



Some of tlio members of the salaiiuinder group are known 

 as newts. These small amphibians frequent ditches and 

 shiggisli water and subsist mainh' upon insects and worms. 

 Although usually considei-ed venomous, they are harmless. 

 Some salamanders are a(iuatic and some terrestrial. Those 

 living in water have flattened tails, while the terrestrial 

 forms have cylindrical tails. 



Most of the land salamanders bring forth their young 

 alive, while tliose inlial;iting the water lay eggs which are 

 usually attached to a sul)merged plant stem. 



Frogs. — The most common frogs in the United States 

 are the bullfrog, grt'cn frog, and the leojjard frog. Of 

 these, the green frog is ]irobably the most familiar, al- 

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

 common. The cheerful and industrious croakings of these 

 frogs may lie heard in the sjjring issuing from every swamp 

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

 ter deep in the mud at the Ijottoms of j^ools. 



Tlie bullfrog is so wqW kno«-n 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 inclies in length and has a deep 

 bass voice. 



The JDullfrog is always found near water into which it can 

 jump when disturbed. On the other luunl, the httle wood 

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

 in the woods and depends for safety "iipon its resemblance 

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

 soon exliausted by its eflorts and is easily cajitured. 



Tree toads. — We ha\-e in the United States several 

 S])ecies of am])hibians known as tree frogs and tree toads. 

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



