Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/518

 506 FROG for years in wells, where it is allowed to re- main under the supposition that it purifies the water ; it is also an active leaper, taking to the water when alarmed. Its voracity is extreme ; it devours young ducks, snakes, moles, mice, insects, worms, snails, its own tadpoles, and 1. Bullfrog (Kana pipiens). 2. Northern Bullfrog (Eana Horiconensis). any small animal it can catch ; it does not seize prey unless alive or in motion. The spe- cies is very generally distributed over the Uni- ted States. The spring frog (R. fontinalis, Le Conte) is green above, with dusky spots be- hind ; throat and abdomen yellow ; hind limbs dark green, with dusky bars ; a cutaneous fold or ridge from the orbit to the hind legs ; the total length is about 8 in. ; it is fond of springs of cold water, and feeds on worms and insects ; it is common from Maine to Virginia. The marsh frog (R. palustris, Le Conte) is pale 1. Shad Frog (Eana halecina). 2. Marsh Frog (Kana palustris). brown above, with two longitudinal rows of dark brown square spots on the back and sides, yel- lowish white below, with the posterior half of the thighs bright yellow mottled with black ; it is slender and delicately formed, about 8 in. in total length ; it is found from Maine to Vir- ginia, on the borders of marshes and pools, and sometimes at a great distance from water ; it has a peculiar strong and disagreeable odor ; from its being a favorite bait for pike, it is often called the pickerel frog. The shad frog (R. halecina, Kalm) is one of the handsomest 1. Wood Frog (Rana svlvatica). 2. Spring Frog (Eana fontinalis). species, being green above, with ovate spots of dark brown margined with yellow, and yellowish white beneath; it is about 8 in. in total length, active, and able to leap a dis- tance of 8 to 10 ft. when alarmed; it is called shad frog from its appearing in the middle states in the spring with this fish ; it is also called water and leopard frog ; it is very widely distributed in the United States, and is the nearest representative here of the com- mon frog of Europe, being like that sought Common Frog (Eana temporaria). after by epicures. The wood frog (R. syl- vatica, Le Conte) is pale reddish brown above, and yellowish white below; the head has a dark brown stripe extending from the snout to the tympanum through the eye ; the total length is a -little over 5|- in. ; it is found from