LIZARDS, TORTOISES AND BATRACHIANS 407 



29 Rana catesbiana Shaw 



Bullfrog 



De Kay. Rana pipiens, p. 60, pi. 19, fig. 48 



Greenish of varying shades, with small, faint dark spots above ; 



head usually bright green ; lower side silvery white with pale 



blotches instead of pure white as in R. clamaia. Length 5-8 



inches. 



The largest of our frogs. Found in larger ponds and streams, 

 specially where there is underbrush. 



30 Rana sylvatica Le Conte 

 De Kay. Rana sylvatica, the wood frog, p. 64, pi. 21, fig. 54 (adult); pi. 20, 



fig. 50 (young) 



Pale reddish brown ; arms and legs barred above ; head small, 

 pointed ; dark brown band from eye to arm. Femur and tibia about 

 equal and considerably more than half length of body. Length 1-J 

 inches. 



Common in woods. In the highlands of the Hudson it appears 

 about the end of March and lays its eggs in ponds and ditches ; 

 then very noisy. Later, in May, it becomes quiet (Mearns). 



31 Rana cantabrigensis Baird 

 " Yery similar to preceding, but tibia equals one half length of 

 body ; a narrow pale line along thighs behind ; a dorsal line from 

 snout to arms ; back sometimes with dark spots ; no outer meta- 

 tarsal tubercle." 



Habits similar to preceding. Probably in northern part of state. 



COLLECTING AND PREPARING 



Probably the best way to collect reptiles and batrachians is by 

 shooting them with small shot cartridges in a small rifle or pistol. 

 A shotgun with an " auxiliary barrel " may also be used. 1 Many 

 specimens may be taken by a quick grab with the fingers, but this 

 is not always an agreeable experience for most people. For the 

 Urodela a dip net is very useful, and usually frogs may be taken 

 in that way. For snakes a slip noose of fine wire tied to the end of 



1 These directions are taken almost entirely from the Directions for collecting 

 reptiles and batrachians by Leonhard Stejneger, XL S. nat. mus. Bui. 39. 



