AUGUST. 
265 
C. — l see several frogs hopping about among the grass. 
jP. — Yes : this species^ the Meadow Frog, f Rana Hale- 
cilia ?J is fond of lurking in the long grass, whence the 
mower disturbs it : it is very handsome, if we are divested 
of that nursery prejudice which looks on every reptile as 
ugly and abominable ; its limbs and upper parts are whitish 
with large irregular spots of dark olive-brown, and the 
whole under parts are bright orange red. I have never seen 
it near water."^' 
C, — What is this curious circular organ, like a round scale, 
on each side of the neck ? I observe it in all frogs. 
F That is the organ of hearing. Frogs have no exter- 
nal ear, but this round membrane which you see, is the 
tympanum or drum of the ear, tightly stretched over the 
auditory canal. 
(7. — What other species of this genus have we ? 
jP. — There is the great Bull- frog ( Rana Pipiens Jy so 
called from its deep hollow voice, resembling the short bel- 
lowing of a bull ; it is of a fine green, spotted with black. 
It resides chiefly in water, and may often be seen sitting 
in a shallow pool, with its muzzle just out of water ; con- 
tinuing in the same position without the slightest motion 
for hours together. Then, I believe, there is another smaller 
species, inhabiting the marshes, of a dusky brown colour, 
but whether this is the young of either of the others, I am 
not certain. ( Rana Clamatis ? ) 
C. — I have seen in the summer evenings a large toad in 
the garden, and near the house, covered with large reddish 
brown warts and excrescences, adding by no means to the 
beauty of its appearance {Bufo Cognatus). Its solemn 
look as it sits upon a stone, sucking in its throat, and 
* I am almost sure this is not Halecina, but I cannot find in Dr. Har- 
lan's paper on the Reptiles any' other to which it bears any resemblance, 
though it must be found in New England. — P. H. G. 
N 
