Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart

Colophon

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The animals on the cover of Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart are moor frogs (Rana arvalis). The moor frog is one of only six frog species found in Europe and one of only three found north of the Arctic Circle. Despite their broad distribution, which extends from central Europe to northern Balkan and even up to the Ural Mountains in Russia, they are one of the rarest frogs in Europe.

Moor frogs thrive in bogs, alder marshlands, and inshore waters. They hibernate at the bottom of pools or on dry land in rotten woodpiles or in piles of rotting leaves. In early spring, once the ice and frost have melted, they reappear for the mating season. Mating takes places in the water, with eager males assembling in anticipation before the females arrive. During the height of the breeding period, males turn bright blue because of the high concentration of lymph underneath their skin. The incessant mating call—which has been compared to the sound of air escaping from an empty, submerged bottle—reveals the male’s excitement.

The bright blue skin, characteristic of the mating season, is a marked difference from their usual appearance; color and patterns vary greatly from uniform brown to black blotches. Although moor frogs bear a strong resemblance to common ...